European University of Lefke (EUL), Director of Vocational School of Health Services Assist.
Prof. Dr. Besim Özyel made statements on the subject of “Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Diseases”.

“According to World Health Organization data, cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Özyel stated that our society is very prone to heart and vascular diseases.” Özyel said that the main reasons for this are factors such as fast food, smoking, obesity and stress that increase the level of low-density cholesterol (LDL) known as ‘bad cholesterol’ and that these factors can trigger cardiovascular diseases.

Polyphenols are naturally found in plants and have the property of being antioxidants.

Stating that the results of epidemiological studies conducted to date indicate that excessive consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and also cancer disease, Özyel stated that the compounds called polyphenols, which are found in various vegetables and fruits, are thought to contribute to this positive effect. Özyel stated that polyphenols are a group of plant secondary metabolites that are naturally present in plants, not vital for plants, but that help the plant adapt to environmental conditions, protect and survive and sustain its generation. It is pointed out that whole grain products, tea and coffee, and red wine are among the food sources that contain high amounts of polyphenols.

“Polyphenols have the feature of being antioxidants. Many studies to date have linked the protective effect of polyphenols on cardiovascular diseases with the antioxidant properties of these plant metabolites” he said. He stated that antioxidants protect cells from oxidative damage, which can trigger cardiovascular diseases and cancer by neutralizing free radicals that result from reactions in metabolism and cause oxidative stress.

A diet rich in plant-based foods appears to delay or prevent many diseases.

Özyel stated that many of the studies that support the positive effects of polyphenols on health are carried out on human cell cultures and human studies are still limited, revealing the necessity of being controlled when talking about the benefits of polyphenols.  “Another thing to note is that the polyphenols in foods are metabolized after consumption, so the polyphenols tested in cells are not likely to be in the form and density in which they are actually tested on the cells in body fluids. . Therefore, although foods rich in polyphenols are thought to be good for cardiovascular diseases, they should be consumed in large quantities in order to achieve the effect seen on cells, which is not a realistic approach. While these studies form a strong foundation, the targeted polyphenols reach a form and density that can be useful in the circulatory system and show their potential biological effects. ”

In a specific summary, it is noted that the dietary habit rich in plant-based nutrition is observed to delay or prevent many diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, and to be careful in the use of various supplements that are sold with polyphenol content and are claimed to reduce the risk of disease and especially natural products. drew attention to the necessity of being preferred.