Foods that contain phytonutrients include fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds and nuts. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and provide phytonutrients health benefits to those that consume them. Although all plant based foods contain phytonutrients, some contain larger amounts than others.
How Phytonutrients Work in The Body
The chemical plant compounds known as phytonutrients provide protection for plants against harmful UV rays, insects and diseases. In the human body these compounds supply the body with powerful antioxidants known to help prevent cancer, clean the liver and reduce inflammation.
Powerful Phytonutrient Rich Foods
Many foods contain phytonutrients. You have probably heard of the antioxidant benefits provides by blueberries or the dietary benefits of legumes and beans. What many people are unaware of however, is that these health benefits come from the food’s phytonutrient content.
In addition to providing health promoting compounds, many phytonutrients are responsible for the color of the foods they are found in. This makes foods that are rich in phytonutrients very easy to identify.
Blueberries, strawberries, kidney beans, carrots, tomatoes, and spinach are all rich in phytonutrients and get their color from them. These are just a few of the colorful foods available that contain phytonutrients. It is important to remember that not all phytonutrients provide color to foods. Garlic and onions are also a good source of phytonutrients.
Different Types of Phytonutrients And Their Benefits
Not all phytonutrients are equal. Just as the foods that contain them differ in vitamin and mineral content, their phytonutrients also serve different purposes.
The antioxidant phytonutrient compounds found in these foods differ in chemical composition and provide their own unique benefits. The damaging effects of oxidization produces cancer causing free radicals and contributes to heart disease by making cholesterol clog arteries much easier.
A balanced diet containing many different types of phytonutrient foods is one of the best ways to prevent health problems caused by oxidization. Antioxidants are well researched and their ability to help prevent diseases cannot be disputed.
In addition to antioxidant ability to prevent disease, many phytonutrients have also been found to reduce inflammation naturally in the body. A good example of a food that contains anti-inflammatory phytonutrients is the Nopal cactus.
Changing Your Diet And Eating More Phytonutrients
It’s not hard to maintain a diet rich in phytonutrients. They are all around us in great abundance. If you practice a healthy lifestyle and a diet containing fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans, then you can easily begin to experience the health benefits of phytonutrients for yourself.
This is a sponsored post for Xango, however, all the points and views are my own
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