Phytonutrients are the new buzz word in nutrition and diet, these compounds can be incredibly helpful, but just what are they, and how can they help? The colored skins of some fruits and vegetables contain a class of compounds known as Phytochemicals.
The Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, are still investigating their benefits for human health, so have yet to issue any guidelines.
As such some companies have not yet started to label products as containing phytonutrients.
But many other independent studies into the compounds have suggested there is a high likelihood of beneficial effects for human health.
There seems to be no dispute about the idea that foods that contain phytonutrients are good for human nutrition.
Many experts actively recommend the use of these compounds.
The only real issue is exactly how effective they are in combating many human ailments and diseases, and how much they assist the bodies' immune system.
How Do Phytonutrients help, and which foods contain them? All heavily colored vegetables or fruits contain at least some phytochemicals.
For example, tomatoes are rich in a phytochemical compound called lycopene.
Large scale scientific studies have found that there is a recognizable link between intake of phytonutrients and a reduction in the occurrence of prostate cancer.
One study showed that men who ate in excess of ten servings of phytochemical rich foods each week.
Showed a reduction in risk of being afflicted by the disease of a massive 35%, this was, as compared to men who only ate one and a half servings each week.
Popeye apparently thrived on spinach, and now there may be some grounds for the claims.
A group of phytochemicals known as carotenoids may bear out the cartoon heroes claims.
People who regularly eat the vegetable seem to have a 46% less chance of macular degeneration, this according to a study that compared regular consumers to those who occasionally eat spinach.
There is another category of compounds known as flavonoids that have been the subject of huge numbers studies, and are considered to be highly beneficial.
These flavonoids are highly efficient antioxidants.
The flavonoids combine with the bodies' oxygen atoms, known as free radicals, to assist in encouraging the repair of damaged cells.
According to the prestigious British medical journal the Lancet, who published a study by two Dutch scientists, who consumed in excess of 30mg of flavonoids each day.
And appeared to have a lower risk of heart disease, rated at 58% less, than those who only ate only 19mg each day.
Flavonoids form part of a bigger class of compounds known as polyphenols.
These polyphenols have similar properties, and are found in many food sources, such as apples, red wine, and strawberries.
All these foods have long been known for their health giving properties.
The American Medical Association published a study in their scientific journal which showed consumption of vegetables and fruits caused a large reduction in the possibility of a person having a stroke.
The study stated that for every additional three servings each day, the participants reduced their risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes by a very significant 22%.
How much do we eat? On average Americans consume 3.
3 vegetable servings each day.
Unfortunately servings that contain the helpful phytochemicals are only eaten in 0.
2 servings each day.
In addition one in ten Americans eats less than one daily serving of fruit and vegetables over their lifetime.
More than one in three Americans, or 29%, fail to beat the minimum amount of recommended daily fruit intake.
Of those just less than half eat less than one fruit item per day.
Conclusion Research into many areas of nutritional science including phytochemicals moves forward quickly.
Even though we know relatively little about phytochemicals it must be obvious that certain vegetables and fruits should always for part of a balanced and healthy diet.