I wonder how many people start craving cherries in February or March, strawberries in April, or any other berries about 2 months before they are ripe, like I do! The reason I believe I crave such foods, is that they have something that my body not only wants, but needs: antioxidants, and more specifically: bioflavinoids. This antioxidant is so vital, and is easy to miss after orange/grapefruit season, and before berry season. Today I would like to discuss the benefits of bioflavinoids, where you might get this important and delicious antioxidant, and the therapeutic applications for bioflavinoids.

Bioflavinoids are not just an antioxidant, they also affect your blood, connective tissue (which is your skin, gums, ligaments and bones), red blood cells, teeth, and the strength of your capillary walls. Now, when we think of capillaries, most of us conclude that it helps with varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and maybe high blood pressure; while bioflavinoids helps with all of these ailments, the strengthening of the capillaries also helps to prevent loss of sight. The health of the capillaries behind the eyes contribute to either good vision, or poor vision. Bioflavinoids feed these capillaries directly.

The effect of bioflavinoids on the blood is not to be underestimated either. High blood pressure is wide spread in this country, and many are the medicines to fight it. Bioflavinoids help clean the blood, and therefore help to reduce high blood pressure. It has been said that if your blood is clean, you cannot get sick. If you can stay on a pure diet (raw foods) for 90 days, all your blood cells will be replaced, according to Dr. Paul Bragg. The cells are replaced anyway, but the health of the cells is the factor. Our bodies are made to heal quickly, given the right diet. I think it's interesting that the blood cells are the first to be replaced.

It has also been said, "you are as old as your arteries". With the effect that bioflavinoids have on our arteries, an increase in bioflavinoids will not only go far in preserving our inner well-being, but our skin is also benefited by these bioflavinoids, as the antioxidant aspect of bioflavinoids helps to prevent wrinkling and sagging.

Bioflavinoids are found abundantly in nature: in the skin and pulp of most fruits, apricots, berries, broccoli, buckwheat, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, oranges, papaya, pepper, plums, prunes, and rose hips, stinging nettle tea, tomatoes. What a delicious way to gain antioxidants and bioflavinoids! I am reminded of what Hippocrates said: "let food be your medicine, and your medicine be food". I couldn't agree more. I never ceased to be amazed at the drug companies' ads on certain drugs, that have a list of side effects so long that I'll be sure to never ask my doctor about that remedy! While everyone must make their own health decisions, I would rather increase my intake of bioflavinoids from raw foods, just because they are a delicious way to good health. One more note here: there are no animal sources of this vital nutrient.

Now, while there are no side effects of bioflavinoids like the pharmaceutical companies have to warn you about, I will tell you this, uh, humorous story. During my fourth pregnancy I consumed a lot of lemon water. I like about half a lemon with a little honey. I drank 2 or 3 glasses of this every day, maybe more. I just loved it. Well, when I went to give birth (I actually stayed home), I gained a centimeter every hour until it was time to push. One small problem: the bag of waters hadn't broken. My midwife said it was very thick. So, we decided to break it open, although we could've waited, we just weren't feeling especially patient at the time....and out came Jordan 10 minutes later. Also, on my third child, she was practically born in her bag! So, beware all you pregnant women who eat healthy, that your bag could be nice 'n thick. But, it could be worse to have a thin bag that breaks too early!! Anyway, you get a few stories to tell when you have nine kids, right?

As far as the therapeutic applications, bioflavinoids have been used to help with allergies, asthma, bleeding gums, broken capillaries, bursitis, colds, depression, dizziness (caused by inner ear), eczema, flu, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, miscarriages, rheumatic fever, and varicose veins.

To conclude, I believe bioflavinoids are an essential part of human nutrition. I have read otherwise, but I disagree with those statements, as there is plenty of research done that shows the benefits we can gain from this powerful antioxidant. So, don't just eat your veggies, eat your fruit, and enjoy good health.