Today I stumbled upon a product, endorsed by Lance Armstrong, calles FRS or Free Radical Scavenger. The product slogan is "healthy energy". A main active ingredient is the phytochemical quercetin. Naturally, quercetin is found in apple skins. FRS says that you'd have to eat 40 apples to equal one can. So it left me curious, what is quercetin and why does Lance Armstrong need so much of it?...
FRS. Free Radical Scanner. The main active ingredients appear to be 100% RDA of seven vitamins including B's , A and E. Then a hefty dose, 325 mg, of quercetin. And some green tea extract as well, 85 mg, about a cup of tea or half cup of coffee. Each 11.5 oz can has 25 calories in the low-cal option or 130 calories for the regular sugar option. So I get the B vitamins, but what in the world does so much quercetin do for your health?
Phytochemicals are a big sector of food science and nutrition gaining a lot of speed and research funds, so discovering the uses of phytochemicals like quercetin has always interested me.
Quercetin. FRF says that quercetin is "one of nature's most powerful and abundant antioxidants. It helps provide sustained energy and supports improved fitness levels."
I don't really know what supporting improved fitness levels exactly means. What is an improved fitness level? Anyways, let's see what the American Cancer Society has to say about Quercetin...
The ACS on Quercetin:
Sources of Quercetin: Apples-the skins, onions, teas, red wines, and other foods.
What does Quercetin do? "Quercetin appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been promoted as being effective against a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. While some early laboratory results appear promising, as of yet there is no reliable clinical evidence that quercetin can prevent or treat cancer in humans. "
My Thoughts: I haven't tried the FRS product, but it may be one to look into. I don't think I would be able to eat 40 apples in one sitting. But you know what? I could easily juice 40 apples and drink the juice containing active and all-natural quercetin over the span of a few days! Or drink one can, but I believe that all natural sources of nutrients and phytochemicals are usually better. But that is just me. However, I'd still like to try FRS eventually to see what all the fuss is about. If I do, you'll be the first ones to know...
Read more about quercetin on the ACS website.
Read more about FRS on the FRS website.
