While it may not directly improve your love life, quercetin might be just what the doctor ordered in terms of a healthy heart and vascular system. One of the most prevalent flavonoids in the food we eat, this polyphenol is also one of the most studied, including on our cardiovascular system.³⁰

In healthy people, studies suggest that quercetin may offer antioxidant and other beneficial effects, but most clinical trials consistently demonstrate no measurable effect on blood pressure or cholesterol levels.^31-32 But for those already experiencing some level of cardiovascular disease with high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, studies show quercetin can significantly reduce these two markers, demonstrating its therapeutic uses.³²

Researchers suggest that quercetin’s preventive mechanisms for cardiovascular disease in healthy people simply may be measurable in ways other than blood pressure or cholesterol levels.³¹ One alternative may be by assessing the effects of quercetin on substances known to improve or damage blood vessel function.³³