Why Polyphenols Are So Good For Your Health + How To Get More In Your Diet

We’ve known for more than a hundred years that polyphenols (special compounds concentrated in plant leaves, fruits, and seeds), work as signaling agents, which act as mitochondrial protectants—but not in the way most people have been taught. These beneficial plant molecules are often celebrated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But, technically, they are not direct antioxidants or anti-inflammatory agents. So, what are the benefits of polyphenols, exactly? And how do we reap them?

Polyphenols are found far and wide within the plant kingdom, but common foods that contain them include:

Basically, any dark or brightly colored plant-based food is likely to be chock-full of polyphenols. In general, organically grown plants tend to contain higher levels of polyphenols, too, as plant stressors (heat, drought, or nutrient deprivation) increases the polyphenol content. Multiple popular supplements, including grape seed extract, and pycnogenol (French maritime tree bark), also contain polyphenols.

Most plant-based foods contain more than one type of polyphenol. In fact, there are a variety of different polyphenol subgroups that you may have heard about before, like these:

It also bears mentioning that olives and olive oil are considered such great health foods, not only because of the monounsaturated fat and oleic acid, but because they, too, are chock-full of polyphenols. For example, the polyphenol hydroxytyrosol (HT), is considered one of the key factors responsible for the Mediterranean diet’s many health benefits. Research using olive oil extract has suggested that HT may prevent cardiovascular disease1, among others, by stimulating mitogenesis2 (i.e. making more mitochondria).

In my experience, the tales are all true. Polyphenols are behind this list of "magical" benefits, but they don’t have much do with polyphenols acting as antioxidants. 

So, when it comes to polyphenols: Eat them, swallow them, drink them moderately in red wine, coffee, or tea, and even use them topically on your face and skin. All in all, their health benefits can be astounding!