Nutrirional Health Supplements - Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are powerful and healthy substances to include in your diet. While technically not "nutrients" (which include carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals which are deemed essential to life), there is growing evidence that phytonutrients play a crucial role in thwarting or reducing the risk of a number of chronic ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and macular degeneration.

Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients. The US FDA has assigned Daily Values (DVs) for only 33 nutrients, but has not established DVs for the many hundreds of identified phytonutrients. Fruits and vegetables are indeed recommended in our diets. They are high in antioxidants, but can also contain harmful chemicals that are not so healthy. If you can’t get organic produce from a known source then you can also choose nutritional health supplements that contain phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients contribute to the plant's self-defense system by protecting it from pests, viruses, bacteria and excessive sunlight. Phytonutrients are a class of health-promoting, bio-active compounds with many sub-categories. By some counts, more than 100,000 phytonutrient compounds have been identified and catalogued.

Phytonutrients are found in beta carotene in carrots, lycopene in tomatoes, isoflavone in beans, and catechin in green tea. They are most potent in raw, unprocessed vegetables. Phytonutrients are strong antioxidants that help prevent cell damage that can lead to disease. Some of the phytonutrients in grapes may also help prevent heart disease by inhibiting the build up of plaque in coronary arteries.

Studies show that foods high in glucosinolates reduce the risk of lung, stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer. Glucosinolates are so good at fighting cancer by detoxifying the liver. Studies indicate that anthocyanins may block the inflammation connected with arthritis, gastric ulcers and cardiovascular disease. In addition, anthocyanins may help normalize blood sugar levels by properly metabolizing them.

Soybeans contain phytoesterol, isoflavones, and protease inhibitors. And, each family of phytonutrients has a particular effect on biological functions. Soybeans are considered to be one of the premier sources of phyto based elements. In addition to the high levels of protein, soybeans also contain isoflavones and protease inhibitors that can enhance cardiovascular health.

Carotenoids, one class of phytonutrients, are the red, orange, and yellow pigments in fruits and vegetables. Beta carotene, the carotenoid abundant in cherries, is more efficiently converted to retinol than other carotenoids; retinol is one of the most usable forms of vitamin A. Carotenoids include yellow, orange, and red pigment in fruits and vegetables. Dark, green, leafy vegetables are rich in the carotenoid, beta carotene, but the usual yellow color is masked by the chlorophyll, the green pigment in the vegetables.

Cherries are also rich in antioxidants and have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Several studies have indicated that cherries assist in muscle repair, are good for the skin, and even lower cholesterol.

As you can see phytonutrients are a big part of the food that’s available to us, if only we would just eat it. In today’s fast paced lifestyle highly processed foods from the many fast food restaurants leaves us lagging in the goodness that Mother Nature intended for us to have. If that sounds like a problem that you have then the good news is you can get your phytonutrients from nutritional health supplements.