Before I explain what these are, let me ask you a few questions.
Do you....
- have a hectic day, everyday?
- usually not have time to eat three sit-down meals a day?
- chauffeur your kids around to their many activities?
- eat many meals at or from fast-food restaurants?
- buy snacks and sodas from vending machines often?
Phytonutrients are nutrients found in plants, namely fruits and vegetables. They're the plant's defense and protection for the environment, and stimulate the plant to make healthy cells. They respond the same way in the human body which makes them useful in preventing and/or treating cancers and other diseases. Phytonutrients are necessary for survival, and are crucial to maintaining good health and overall wellness. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds they contain are also useful in many other ways.
There are many different classes of phytonutrients, but the three that you've probably heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids, and sulfides. As you may know, carotenoids give plants their red, orange, and yellow colors, and different phytonutrients give plants different colors. The easy way to ensure that you get all or most of the phytonutrients you need is to simply eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day.
Webster's Dictionary defines antioxidant as "a substance that inhibits oxidation. What does this mean really? Due to factors such as smoking, alcohol, radiation, and environmental pollutants, some molecules in our body become unstable by having fewer electrons than needed to be stable. These are called free radicals. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals be neutralizing their electrical charge. These are extremely important because the damage that free radicals cause in their search for an extra electron can and may be irreversible. The effects of rogue free radicals are seen in various cancers, strokes, and heart disease- some of today's most common killers. In order to get antioxidants into your body, simply eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Vitamins and minerals are known collectively as micronutrients, which are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. Some vitamins are water soluble, which means that they aren't stored in the body (they go out with urine), and others are fat soluble, which means that your body stores them in you liver and fatty tissue. Vitamins are organic substances, produced by plants or animals. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances; they're produced soil and water and are eaten or absorbed by animals and plants. Your body needs different amounts of minerals to stay healthy. Calcium, for example, is needed in larger amounts to keep your bones healthy, and other minerals, known as trace minerals, are only needed in small amounts daily. Once again, to provide your body with these essential vitamins and minerals, you need to eat plenty of different fruits and vegetables every day.
Did you notice a common theme here? All of these essential types of nutrients can be found in fruits and vegetables! However, most of us don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to sufficiently provide our body with the nutrients that it needs. That's where dietary supplements come in. They can help you get the required amounts of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals that you need to achieve great health.
Remember: The choice is yours- say YES to great health!
* NOTE: all the posts after this one will be in alphabetical order, and will explain different antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All the way from A to Z. Enjoy!
