Phytonutrients


Phytonutrients=phyto+Nutrients
(plant+nutrition)


Have you ever thought………

How plants protect themselves from diseases, insects, bacteria, virus, environmental stresses like heat, cold, pollution, UV light etc scientific research has answered that it is due to the presence of phytonutrients.

These organic components of plants are good for protecting the plants and are thought to promote human health too.

Fruits, Vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients.

DIFFERNET PLANTS HAVE DIFFERENT PHYTONUTRIENTS

Though more than 25,000 phytonutrients have been identified

The two most widely researched are:


Carotenoids
Bioflavonoids(Flavonoids)
Beta
EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate
Lycopene
Ellagic acid
Lutein
Quercetin
Hesperidine


FUNCTIONS OF PHYTONUTREINTS

- Many Phytonutrients are potent antioxidants
- Help inactivate free radicals
- Help to reduce damage to cells, lipids & DNA
- A mixture of antioxidants is thought to offer a lot of health benefits














FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE EXCELLENT SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS


IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN YOUR DIET


Colorful fruits and vegetables provide the wide range of
Vitamins
Minerals
Phytonutrients

The body needs these to:
Maintain good health
Energy levels
Prevent disease

Fruits and vegetable are antioxidant sources

Diets high in fruits & vegetables have many health benefits

But, we need variety of antioxidants to scavenge different Free Radicals

VARIETY ISAS IMPORTANT AS QUANTITY

Choose the phytonutrients Rainbow

Eat at least 9 servings of Fruits & vegetables per day













But do we get to consume the recommended servings?

The Phytonutrients get destroyed easily, due to

Cultivation
Harvesting
Storing
Shipping
Processing
Cooking Etc

All this leads to the loss of Phytonutrients in our diet