Phenols Flavonoids Polyphenols What Are They?

Polyphenols are considered the 'backbone' for most of the antioxidants found in plants most notably in red wine and olives. The chemical composition is: two six-carbon rings (benzene rings) connected by a chain of three carbons. With the carbon rings are attached various functional groups like oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and alcohols. The plants in order to protect themselves from insects and various diseases, builds complex polyphenols called flavonoids or phenolic compounds.

Two types exist:
Flavonoids

Phenolic Compounds

The main source of polyphenol antioxidants is nutritional since a wide array of phytonutrient-bearing foods contains them. This type of antioxidant is characterized by the presence of several phenol functional groups. These compounds, some 4000, are thought to be instrumental in combating oxidative stress.

Some evidence suggest that some phenolic compounds also help detoxify the body by chelating with metals and facilitating their removal.(1)

Generally found in high levels of the skin of fruits. Sources of polyphenols include legumes, berries, tea, beer, wine, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, walnuts, peanuts, yerba mate, and other fruits and vegetables.

Tannins and other polyphenols, found in tea and red wine, can reduce the availability of iron, vitamin B12 and protein by forming chemical complexes with the enzymes needed to metabolize these nutrients.

Some polyphenol antioxidants, such as resveratrol inhibit occurrence and/or growth of mammalian tumors. More information can be found here on polyphenols.