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Photonutrients
What are they?
Phytonutrients (sometimes called phytochemicals) are natural compounds in plants that promote health. Unlike vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, they are not considered ‘essential’ to life, but they are widely recognized as having many beneficial effects on health.
What do they do?
Phytonutrients act as antioxidants and also support a healthy immune system. Phytonutrients also activate processes in the liver that help to detoxify potentially harmful substances that come into the body.
Why are they important?
The antioxidant effects of phytonutrients are one of their primary benefits. Oxidation occurs in the body naturally as part of everyday metabolism, but we need to consume enough antioxidants to keep this process in check, otherwise oxidation can cause damage to body cells and tissues. This oxidative stress is related to the development of a number of chronic diseases, so the many antioxidant nutrients in plant foods help protect the body.
Where are they found?
There are literally thousands of phytonutrients in the plant world. Different plants contain different classes of phytochemicals, which is why it is so important to consume a diversity of plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains as well as herbs and tea. One way to ensure diversity of phytonutrient intake is to consume a wide variety of colorful foods in the diet, since many phytonutrients are pigments that give plant foods their color. Lutein, for example, is a phytonutrient that gives foods like spinach and lettuce their green color, while lycopene is a red-colored phytonutrient found in tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit. Not all phytonutrients have color, however. The beneficial sulfur compounds in onions and garlic have a strong odor, but are colorless.
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