Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) are the major contributors to the color, taste, and smell of many plant-based foods. The word is also an umbrella term for the compounds that plants make that improve a human’s health. These gems possess natural chemicals that protect plants from germs, fungi, bugs, and other unsavory characters.
This brilliance gives you a glimpse of what they can do in your body, as well, in terms of overall wellness.
What phytonutrients do
Phytonutrients are small compounds that have powerful results. Knowing the different subcategories, such as tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids, may not be as useful as understanding what phytonutrients do. Here are just some of the wonderful benefits they offer:
Antioxidant
Antibiotic
Cancer preventive
Anti-inflammatory
Tissue supportive
Immune supportive
Tissue protective
Where to find phytonutrients
Phytonutrients are pretty much everywhere in plant land, which means you probably don’t have to go out of your way to buy unfamiliar foods. They exist most prolifically in:
Beans
Fruits, vegetables, and herbs
Nuts and seeds
Tea
Whole grains