What Are Phytonutrients?

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Phytonutrients are natural, biologically active components of plant foods. Phytonutrients are found in fruits and vegetables. They are usually found in the peel of fruits or vegetables and are responsible for the pigment of the plant. The meaning of "phyto" is a plant and comes from Greek.

Various studies show that most phytonutrients have the action of antioxidants and also protect us from destructive cells - free radicals. These cells attack the healthy and cause various diseases - Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease and others. Thanks to antioxidants, free radicals in our body are not able to grow and maintain a normal and acceptable level.

Eating more plant foods will help us fight various diseases that occur due to insufficient vitamins and minerals, as well as help the metabolism.

Phytonutrients have other very important functions. They cope well with various inflammatory processes, are very useful for the proper functioning of the heart, contribute to good blood circulation, to regulate blood pressure.

In order to get these substances for your body, it is good to eat a lot of fruits - varied and every day. Phytonutrients are a very important component for your optimal health. Thanks to them, the aging process slows down.

Phytonutrients are divided into several types:

1. Be patient - There are most of them in fruits and vegetables.

2. Thiols - these are phytonutrients that contain sulfur and are found mainly in cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli;

3. Phenols - they are divided into the following:

- isoflavones - legumes and especially soy are especially rich in them;

- flavonoids - blueberries, red cabbage and darker grape varieties

4. Lignans - They are mainly found in bran and flaxseed.