Phytochemicals

1 Pages 290 Words

The Food Guide Pyramid recommends between five and 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. New research has found that following this recommendation can provide huge health benefits due to phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables. Phytochemicals are, literally, chemicals produced by plants. These natural, plant produced chemicals give vitamins added benefits. It is believed that these micronutrients provide significant health benefits ranging from prevention of many chronic diseases including many cancers and cardiovascular disease to the slowing down the aging process.
Phytochemicals act as antioxidants against free radicals that are found in the body. These molecules are highly reactive and can damage or destroy vital compounds that may lead to serious health complications. Antioxidants work by strengthening the body’s defenses against these potentially dangerous molecules. They are thought to reduce cell damage (cell damage is thought to be a major factor in the aging process), stimulate the immune system, and fight bacteria and viruses. And although it is not exactly known how, phytochemicals are thought to be vital in the prevention of many cancers. It has been found that many men who eat diets rich in tomatoes have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. (Barclay, 2001) Though tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and beta-carotene, it is important to remember that a diet containing a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes will provide a greater array of the more than 25,000 phytochemicals that have been discovered. Green tea has also been found to be a
powerful anti-oxidant. The more varied and colorful a diet, the better the probability of consuming a diet rich in phytochemicals and reaping their many health benefits....