Benefits of tannins for health: natural antioxidants

The tannins they are substances that we find mainly in tea, coffee and in some vegetables and fruits. In addition, we also find them in wine, thus becoming one of the main ingredients to which this drink apparently has its benefits (although, as is evident, no alcoholic beverage is healthy even when it provides natural antioxidants or any other property beneficial to health).

The tannins They contain mainly tannic acid, which provides the bitter taste so characteristic of these foods. But what are the benefits of tannins for health of people who consume foods rich in them ?.

What are tannins?

We could define the tannins as some Water-soluble phenolic compounds, which have a bitter and rough taste. They are divided into hydrosoluble and condensed, We find them mostly in barks, leaves and roots of plants and fruits.

Although in recent years these compounds have become popular because of the increased interest on the part of many people in the well-knownwine culture(Since we found a lot of these substances in this traditional drink), it is not the only one where we find them.

In fact, as we mentioned earlier, did you know that we also found tannins in the Green Tea or in the coffee? But, especially - and as we will see - we find them in many fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, medlars or quinces, and also in vegetables.

Where do we find tannins?

Basically we could say that we found tannins in foods with a bitter and harsh taste, mainly because these compounds are what give these foods and drinks this recognized organoleptic quality.

And in what foods or drinks can we then find tannins ?:

  • Fruits:The grapes stand out, in addition to the pomegranate, the quince, the medlars, the apple and the persimmons.
  • Coffee It is another drink known for its tannin content. In fact, it is one of the compounds that gives this drink its characteristic bitter taste.
  • Some teas:especially green tea and black tea.
  • Chocolate:although you do not believe it, traditionally and originally chocolate is bitter, and tannin is the one that brings this quality to it.
  • Red wine It is known that the presence of tannins in this drink (as in grape juice), is the main ingredient that gives it its recognized heart-healthy qualities.

Benefits of tannins in health

Heart-healthy action

Tannins have a recognized heart-healthy action. This means that they have a healthy effect on the health of our heart, as well as being useful in preventing high levels of high cholesterol.

In fact, different scientific studies have found that a diet with regular consumption of foods and drinks rich in tannins helps reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Antioxidant qualities

Tannins are also natural antioxidants, so that they are especially useful in reducing the negative action of free radicals.

This quality translates into something very important: they help in the prevention of degenerative diseases.

Effective against diarrheas and gases

Believe it or not, did you know that tannins also have astringent and anti-inflammatory properties? Thanks to this they naturally help when it comes to the inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, being useful in cases of infectious diarrhea, gas and flatulence and intestinal colic.

Useful against clots and hemorrhoids

Tannins also act as local anticoagulants and anti-hemorrhages, so they help prevent blood from clotting. In addition, thanks to this property, they are ideal against hemorrhoids.

Properties of tannins, in summary

  • They cause an astringent action.
  • They protect against cancer.
  • They carry out an anti-nutritive activity on iron, calcium, vitamins of group B12 and B1, and on proteins.
  • They have anti-fungal virtues.
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Ideal against diarrhea, for its antidiarrheal effect.
This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist.

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