Phytochemicals

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Phytochemicals

• Phytochemicals are certain organic components of
  plants which scientists have isolated as being
  beneficial to human health in a different way
  from traditional antioxidants.
• They are sometimes referred to as phytonutrients,
  but unlike the traditional nutrients (protein,
  fat, vitamins, minerals), they are not
  "essential" for life so the term phytochemical is
  more accurate.

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TOP TWELVE PHYTO FOODS

• Soy
• Tomato
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Flax seeds
• Citrus fruits

• Melons cantaloupe, watermelon
• Pink grapefruit
• Blueberries
• Sweet potatoes
• Chili peppers
• Legumes beans, and lentils

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Honorable mention

• green tea, red grapes, papaya, carrots, kale,
  nuts and seeds, eggplant, artichoke, cabbage,
  brussel sprouts, onions, apples, cauliflower,
  dried apricots, pumpkin, squash, spinach, mangos,
  and shiitake mushrooms.

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Phytochemicals have been proven to be beneficial.

• They may serve as antioxidants in a bodily system
  when required for example, the phytochemical
  beta-carotene can metabolize to create vitamin A,
  a powerful antioxidant.

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Additional Benefits

• Additionally, phytochemicals may enhance immune
  response and cell-to-cell communication, allowing
  for the body's built-in defenses to work more
  efficiently.
• Phytochemicals may even alter estrogen
  metabolism, cause cancer cells to die
  (apoptosis), repair DNA damage caused by smoking
  and other toxic exposure, and detoxify
  carcinogen..

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Cancer Fighter

• Research in this area is expanding rapidly
  because it appears that phytochemicals offer a
  measurable amount of protection against oral
  cancer and other diseases.

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The prescription of tomorrow?

• Will phytochemicals be the preferred
  "prescription" of tomorrow? Possibly, but in any
  case they are helping teach us more about natural
  defenses against cancer, and that is a good thing
  by any name.