How to Be Healthy

  This class of chemicals, though fairly new to science, has become one of the most commonly researched groups recently.  Researchers have identified over 25,000 phytonutrients to date.  These chemicals are produced by plants giving them taste, color, texture and smell.  These nutrients are found in plants and responsible for their healthy benefits. They have the power to help us to naturally lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce allergic reaction, destroys cancer cells and increase immune system response and function.  Research has suggested but these phytonutrients control the communication between the 60 trillion cells of the body.

  One example of a phytonutrient is the carotenoid family.  There have been over 500 different carotenoids discovered so far including:

alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin.   

These compounds are found even in foods that are vitamin or mineral deficient.  Lycopene, found in tomato products, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by almost half.  Increasing the consumption of carotenoid rich foods will decrease rates of cancer in the ovary, mouth, lung, digestive tract, endometrium and breast.  For example, indole-3- carbinol, a compound found in broccoli that has anticancer properties is present even when the broccoli contains very little amounts of calcium or other minerals.  As scientists identify and study more phytochemicals, it is safe to conclude that other remarkable and diverse uses will follow.