The Importance of Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals- sometimes called phytonutrients– are an important and exciting aspect of health and nutrition. Don’t be afraid of the name; it refers to non-nutrient plant compounds found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and other plant foods. In fact, “Phyto” is the Greek word for plants. The phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are actually what gives them their bright and vibrant colors. These are different from vitamins or minerals but may enormously impact human health and wellness. Scientists have identified over 5,000 different phytochemicals, and that number continues to grow.
Free Radicals
The term free radical is being mentioned more and more in science, and chances are that even if you don’t know what it means, you have probably heard it mentioned. No, the term does not refer to a punk rock band performing at the local skate park but rather to chemical reactions happening in our bodies.
The atoms in the human body are all seeking to reach a state of stability. To do this, they will sometimes lose and gain electrons or, in some cases, share them with other atoms. Free radicals are created when there are an odd number of electrons and can be produced when specific molecules interact with oxygen. Once the process starts, the free radical attempts to steal the electron from its nearest neighbor to increase stability, leaving the new molecule one electron short. That molecule then continues this process with its closest neighbor, and so on. It is this domino effect that can quickly build and can have a significant impact on the health of an individual. The human body can handle free radicals and the damage they cause in small amounts. The problem begins when the free radicals become excessive in the body and if antioxidants are unavailable.
The Good News
The critical thing to know is that help is available to combat these free radicals and fight disease. The phytochemicals in plant foods are packed with antioxidants that can help protect the body from these electron-stealing molecules. Plant-based foods have roughly 64 times the amount of antioxidants of animal foods.
In addition to the free radical protection that phytochemicals provide, they also assist with other functions as well. For example, isoflavones that are found in soybeans and peanuts can assist with blood vessel dilation, which helps regulate blood pressure. Saponins in beans, corn, and other legumes may assist in fighting cancer, as they interfere with cell replication. A third phytochemical, curcumin, assists in preventing DNA damage and has been shown to promote death in cancer cells.
Eat To Your Health
The phytochemicals in plants are actually what helps to keep them alive and fight off certain things in the wild. For example, there are some phytonutrients that help plants protect themselves from insect attack, while others assist in keeping harmful microbes at bay. One interesting way of looking at this is that when a person eats plant foods, they are ingesting all of that protective power and gaining it for themselves!
There are no phytonutrients that are better or worse than others, and they in fact all work together to optimize health. The human body needs a variety of these compounds to function at the highest level and to help fight disease. To make sure that a person is getting what they need, it is a great idea to eat fruits and vegetables with a wide range of colors.
So load up your plate with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables and eat to your health!
