Phytonutrients are found in the skins of fruits and vegetables. They give these foods flavor, color, and scent. Some grains and seeds also carry these nutrients. Tomatoes, green tea, red onions, raspberries, and blackberries are just a few foods that contain these nutrients. They are in fact pigments. Some people think that they may be vitamins and minerals, but this is not so.
Recent research has shown that Phytonutrients are in fact surprisingly good for you. They strengthen the immune system and may help in deterring cancer. Phytonutrients are also very powerful antitoxins. These substances will neutralize free radicals. The liver releases free radicals when metabolism occurs, and can be detrimental to the body. When they build up, they can invite disease and give rise to premature aging.
The Phytonutrients found in bilberries and blueberries have been found to maintain good sight in rats and possibly slow brain aging. There is a problem with some people having allergies to certain fruits and vegetables, so that they should be a little cautious when using Phytonutrients. Otherwise, they seem to be fairly safe as there are no other side effects known or limited quotas of consumption.
Although it is good to consume fruits and vegetables, sometimes they can cause elevated blood sugars. This is especially bad for diabetic and those with metabolic disorders. It is wise to regulate these foods if you have these types of disorders.
One of the Phytonutrients is Resveratrol. This substance is found in red wine and red grapes. A medicine has been developed from this Phytonutrient that helps to increase exercise endurance significantly. This will be very beneficial to those who want to lose weight and patients with diabetes. Clinical studies were conducted in France and Finland to explore this topic. More research will need to be done before results can be proved conclusive.
With this in mind, it has also been discovered that grape juice and red wine containing Phytonutrients are also good for your heart. American studies have recently been conducted to explore the possibilities that Resveratrol can help to deter strokes. By this substance according to this study, nerve cells can be protected from damage. They found that 2 glasses a day were sufficient to supply the Resveratrol needed for the body. It was conducted with red wine, but red grapes and grape juice made from them is also effective.
An alternative is taking diet supplements of these Phytonutrients. These supplements will not raise your blood sugar and will still give you these valuable nutrients.
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