Posted on 04/04/2024 9:09:58 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Polyphenols are powerful plant metabolites known for their antioxidant properties, offering potential health benefits and protection against various diseases. These are found in plentiful amounts in various fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee.
Despite their bitter and astringent taste, recent studies indicate that they may hold the key to a range of health benefits, including the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, and age-related sensory decline.
Prof. Osakabe remarks, "Although many researchers have conducted polyphenol research for more than 30 years, a major challenge has been to elucidate the mechanisms behind their beneficial health effects." This review attempts to understand the ways in which polyphenols interact with sensory receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, ultimately influencing metabolic pathways and promoting overall well-being.
Sensory receptors are specialized cells located close to nerve endings and are widely distributed in specialized organs such as eyes, ears, and even the gut. Some reports have suggested that food signals contribute to homeostasis via gut-based sensory receptors.
Delving deeper to unearth the association between polyphenols and the gut, researchers in this study revealed that polyphenols, which are inherently bitter in taste, interact with the bitter taste receptor, the taste receptor 2 (T2R) receptors.
Furthermore, some studies found that until polyphenols are excreted, they stay in contact with I-, K-, and L- cells of the intestine expressing T2Rs or with gastrointestinal sensory nerves and epithelial cells that express TRP channels for an extended time. The astringency of polyphenols was suggested to be a somatosensory perception (a sensation that can occur anywhere in the body) and was correlated with improved blood pressure and risk factors for heart diseases.
Researchers have found that astringent polyphenols interact with transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. These findings strongly suggested that polyphenols exert their beneficial effects via sensory receptors of the gastrointestinal tract.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I know many people don’t like some of these tastes coming from food they know is good for them, but it looks all the more important to get those bitter-tasting veggies and other healthy substances, into you.
Your tongue is doing you a disservice.
Quercetin is a good example of it, which also acts as a ionophore in simple terms it unlocks the cell membranes and help other beneficial chemicals to enter cells, like in case of a virus. For example when it comes to viruses zinc will be much more beneficial and effective killing viruses when it is taken in connection with an ionophore like quercetin.
Aside all this, thanks to Conservative Mind for posting your great articles as I always enjoy reading them. Stay healthy and well !
Exactamundo!
Any question I had in regards to my government's feelings toward me were resolved when they tried to block access to HCQ & its relatives, and furthermore, published/promoted false & misleading info regarding zinc's efficacy.
yeah this is the second article I’ve read recently about the role of bitter foods.
Thanks for posting.
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