Today's nutrient is a bit of the normal list of vitamins and minerals: Procyanidins :)

Procyanidin, although not necessary for our body functions have been shown to have many healthy and beneficial effects to our bodies when consumed! So what is procyanidins and what does it do? Procyanidin is a flavonoid molecule found in certain plants and fruits that are long molecules of polyphenol molecules.

What can Procyanidins do?

Since Procyanidins are still being researched into their effects and benefits for their body, there are only a few observed pathways involving procyanidins (doesn't mean that it diminishes its beneficial effects!)

Procyanidins are a class of long molecules found in plants that cannot normally be digested by the human intestine, that being said these molecules often find themselves in the large intestine where most of the gut bacteria here. Normally after a high fat meal, there exists large amounts of bile acids released that helped our body absorb the fats. Yet in the large intestine this bile can accumulate in harmful amounts and interact with the bacteria within to produce toxic inflammatory compounds which can contribute to cancers such as colorectal cancer. Procyanidins are very important in the sense that they inhibit this process of the bile acid interfering with our cells. This has been supported with multiple studies of procyanidin supplementation preventing onset of cancer within the body. (not just colorectal other cancers as well!) Additionally its anti-inflammatory effect has been shown to improve heart and digestive health as well.

Good sources of Procyanidins!

- Dark Reddish Fruits such as Grapes, Berries even Chocolate!

- For anyone who stops you from having that red wine and chocolate night, just show them this! Both foods have been shown to have high amounts of procyanidins which improve their ability to prevent cancers within your body.