There are many health benefits of polyphenols based on the research we have today. The literature points to several beneficial effects on common diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity

Data also supports the idea that polyphenols have a beneficial effect on gut health. Subsequently, the gut health benefits of polyphenols seem to center around their ability to modulate the microbiome.

Polyphenols have several different effects on the microbiome, which largely depend on the type of polyphenol. For example, they can help promote the growth of the good guys, prevent growth of the bad guys, lower inflammation, and protect against leaky gut.

Today’s video blog takes a deep dive into polyphenols and how they help keep your gut in tip-top shape.

Effects of polyphenols on the gut

A couple of recent papers suggest a high polyphenol diet has some pretty interesting effects on the aging gut. The Microbiome mAnipulation through Polyphenols for managing Leakiness in the Elderly(MaPLE) trial found that a high polyphenol diet in the elderly:

• Lowered intestinal permeability
• Lowered blood pressure
• Modulated the microbiome to strengthen the barrier
• Decreased inflammation

Observational studies show a consistent beneficial effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on human health. In addition to coffee, tea, chocolate, and wine, fruits and vegetables are the primary sources for dietary polyphenols.

However, it’s interesting to note that polyphenols aren’t all that bioavailable, at least not how they come in food. As a result, having the right metabolic machinery in your gut microbiome to transform these polyphenols into something you can use may be critical to their beneficial effects.

Therefore, many of the health benefits of polyphenols may run through how they affect the gut locally and the microbiome to yield bioavailable metabolites. In the same vein, it’s important to observe other gut-friendly practice to make sure you have the microbes to transform polyphenols into something useful.

Health benefits of polyphenols: How polyphenols improve your health &  protect against the negative effects of aging

Your gut has a strong influence on your overall health. Furthermore, the health of your gut shapes your microbiome. Consequently, consuming a higher polyphenol diet seems to be a way to improve your gut and overall health.

In today’s video blog we discuss why you should consume more polyphenols in your diet. In addition, we talk about what they are, how they make your gut stronger, and which foods contain higher levels of polyphenols.

Above all, it’s important to understand that just because nutrients like polyphenols aren’t essential to health doesn’t mean they can’t make you healthier. Furthermore, whether or not you get benefits from them likely depends on your individual gut microbiome make up.

Check it out and incorporate this information in your daily life to see improvements in your gut and overall health!!!

Enjoy!

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:39) What are polyphenols?
• (5:47) How polyphenols improve health
• (7:11) Effects of polyphenols on the microbiome & leaky gut
• (12:07) How polyphenols shape conditions in the gut
• (17:50) Data on polyphenols, leaky gut, inflammation, and aging
• (20:28) Getting more polyphenols in your diet