Phytonutrients / Phytochemicals

A major area of interest in nutritional science concerns the therapeutic benefits of phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals. These naturally occurring substances give plants their characteristic flavor, color, aroma, and resistance to disease. When consumed, they also help people resist disease.

Thousands of phytonutrients have been identified in fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, algae, and nuts. They have tremendous benefits for people by helping to prevent illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. For example, two phytochemicals found in cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli and cauliflower), known as indole-3 carbinol and sulforaphane, help the body to metabolize toxins and are associated with preventing certain types of cancers.

Flavonoids, found in citrus fruits, protect us against heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Many phytochemicals are powerful antioxidants that protect against cell damage and environmental pollutants. Others also help cells to detoxify more efficiently. For example, green vegetables are high in chlorophyll, a potent detoxifying phytochemical. We need all the support that nature has to offer in our modern but toxic world.

Bottom line: You are what you eat. People who grow up eating whole food diets, including abundant amounts of plant foods, stand a better chance of avoiding cancer, heart disease, and other maladies. Many health benefits of phytochemicals are yet to be discovered.

Phytochemical	Source	Properties	Conditions
Allylic Sulfides	garlic, onions	detoxification support	cancer
Bioflavonoids	fruits and vegetables	antioxidant, cancer prevention	arthritis, cancer, circulatory disease
Catechins	berries, tea (especially green tea)	antioxidant, detoxification	high cholesterol, cancer, and heart disease prevention
Chlorophyll	green plants and other colored vegetables	antioxidant, contains vitamin K	anemia, detoxification, burns and wounds, cancer prevention
Curcumin	turmeric	anti-inflammatory, antioxidant	arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer
Ellagic Acid	berries, grapes, apples, tea	detoxifying	cancer prevention
Flavoglycosides	ginkgo, black tea	antioxidant, improved blood flow	heart disease, kidney disease, varicose veins, depression, poor memory
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)	Jerusalem artichoke, chicory root, garlic, bananas	detoxification, increase beneficial bacteria	digestive cinditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, yeast overgrowth, cancer, vaginitis
Gallic Acid	tea, red wine	antioxidant, immune enhancing	infections, heart disease
Glucosinolates	cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts)	detoxifying, hormone balance	cancer prevention, general detoxification
Indoles	cruciferous vegetables(broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts)	detoxifying, hormone balance	cancer prevention (especially hormone dependent, such as breast and prostate)
Isoflavones	soy	hormone balancing	PMS, menopause, cancer prevention
Isothiocyanates	broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, horseradish	detoxification	cancer prevention
Lignans	flaxseeds, walnuts	immune enhancement, hormone balance	cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention
Limonoids	citrus fruits and peels	detoxification	cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention
Lycopene	tomatoes, red grapefruit	antioxidant	cancer prevention and treatment
Organosulfur compounds	garlic, onions, chives	antioxidant, immune enhancing, detoxification	cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention, immune system enhancement, general detoxification
Phenolic Acids	broccoli, berries, tomatoes, cabbage, whole grains	antioxidant	cancer prevention
Sulforaphane	cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts)	detoxification, hormone balance	cancer prevention
Terpenes	citrus fruit	anticancer	cancer prevention, hormone balance