Phytonutrients (“fight-o-nutrients”) are one of food’s good guys!
Phytonutrients are components of plants, which are thought to protect the body. In the last few decades, we have discovered many different types phytonutrients in plant foods and they continue to be identified. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients.
Many of the bright, deep colours, flavours and aromas in fruits and vegetables come from their phytonutrient content.
Although research is still not complete on specific individual phytonutrients, for now an easy way to maintain good health is to increase your intake of “fight-o-nutrient” rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.
The exact components responsible for the protective effects of fruit and vegetables are not fully understood. It is likely that the unique combination of nutrients they contain such as vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytochemicals all work together to provide protection, rather than any specific individual component.
It’s good to know then, that prunes, like all fruits are natural sources of important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
The best tests for identifying the many phytonutrients in different foods are not yet standardized, although laboratory tests show that prunes contain high amounts of specific phytonutrient compounds such as neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acid, as well as lutein and zeazanthin. Research in this exciting area continues to improve our knowledge.
Your body uses oxygen to help fuel metabolism; as it does it produces oxidising chemicals called free radicals. These free radicals can damage your body’s cells, dramatically reducing your defences and leaving you more susceptible to premature ageing and disease, including heart disease and cancer.
The body defends itself against the destructive action of free radicals with protective chemicals known as phytonutrients. These are found in all plant foods and help neutralize the oxidative process by ‘wrapping’ a protective coat around each and every one of our cells preventing free radical action. We need an adequate intake of phytonutrients to counteract the free radicals in our body
Working on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Tufts University team has come up with one of several tests to identify the total phytonutrients content of fruits and vegetables.
The researchers have also run tests that suggest that plant based phytonutrients may have a protective effect by, for example, their anti-inflammatory action in the body to neutralize free radicals.
According to the results from Tufts, the tests showed prunes, have a favourable total phytonutrient content.
The bad guys, the free radicals
Free radicals are produced in our bodies because when we use oxygen to help fuel metabolism; we also produce oxidising chemicals called free radicals. These free radicals degrade and damage our body’s cells, dramatically reducing our defences and leaving us more susceptible to diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Phytonutrients seem to protect against this destructive action of the free radicals. We need an adequate intake of phytonutrients to counteract the free radicals in our body.
What can you do?
Eat your way to better health with Sunsweet® prunes as part of a balanced diet. Research reveals that prunes are rich in phytonutrients.*