Want to provide your body with natural, health-boosting nutrients? Phytonutrients, or phytochemicals, are powerful nutrient-like substances found in plants.
Unlike major nutrients like vitamin C, you do not develop a serious deficiency without phytonutrients. Yet these compounds can be invaluable to your health.
Eating a diet high in these nutrients is strongly connected with better health. They could improve your ability to detox, as well as boost your immune system. They may also help protect against age-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. (1, 2)
So growing up, when your mom encouraged you to eat your fruits and veggies, she knew what she was talking about.
Here’s a closer look at why we need phytonutrients, where to find them, and the different types.
Scientists have already identified over 5,000 different types of these plant compounds. But they admit there are many more to discover, as well as more to learn about their potential benefits. (3)
Some of those many benefits may help to:
The good news is getting plenty of these nutrients is fairly easy, as well as tasty.
Fresh, whole foods are the best sources. All plant-based foods contain phytonutrients, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. But keep in mind processing methods may lower the phytonutrient content of some foods. (15)
The bright colors of fruits and vegetables — such as green, purple, red, or yellow — may help indicate what type of phytonutrients they contain. Why? Because a plant’s phytochemicals help determine its color, scent, and flavor. For example, the beautiful red, purple, and blue hues from berries are anthocyanins. (3, 16, 17)
But foods without bright colors can have these nutrients as well. Potatoes and cauliflower, for example, are still good sources. Nuts like almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts contain several phytonutrients. And both tea and dark chocolate are not brightly colored, yet they are packed with these health-boosting plant compounds. (3, 18, 19, 20)
Essential oils can be a potent source as well. Pine needles, cedar, and lavender are a few examples of essential oils used for health, which come from their phytochemical content. Even the smell of some essential oils can help lower inflammation. (21, 22, 23)
With thousands of phytonutrients, you may wonder which are most common and what potential health payoffs they have. Here are the five major ibes — anthocyanins, tannins, lutein and zeaxanthin, sulforaphane, and eugenol — and what they offer the body.
The word anthocyanin comes from the Greek words for ‘flower’ and ‘blue.’ This plant nutrient gives fruits and vegetables their vivid red, blue, and purple tints. Scientists have discovered over 700 different types of anthocyanins. (24, 25, 26)
Anthocyanins have been widely studied in labs, animals, and humans. Studies suggest they:
Anthocyanins also potentiate other phytochemicals, meaning they help boost the benefits found in other phytonutrients. (32)
Knowing that anthocyanins are associated with red, blue, and purple makes it easier to remember its sources. Berries, cherries, currants, grapes, and plums are rich sources. But don’t forget vegetables like purple potatoes or red cabbage. (17)
Tannins are responsible for creating an astringent flavor — that mouth puckering, drying taste when you drink tea for example. (33)
Though bitter-tasting, these nutrients may have a variety of health benefits, such as:
Some people think that tannins interfere with iron absorption in food. But research has found that your body adapts over time and isn’t affected. (33)
You can fill up on these substances in many different foods. Tart fruits like cranberries, currants, and blackberries are good sources. But sweeter fruits like apples, grapes, peaches, and strawberries have them as well. (34)
Nuts — such as almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts — contain tannins. Barley, beans, lentils, and rice are also tannins sources. Along with this, tea is a common way people consume tannins. (34)
Cacao beans and dark chocolate are high sources of tannins, so indulging in a little dark chocolate can help you get your share of this phytonutrient. (34)
Lastly, antiparasitic herbs contain tannins, which is where they get some of their medicinal properties. (36)
Lutein and zeaxanthin can give foods a rich orange or yellow color. These are potent antioxidants, most commonly known for their role in eye health. Your retina holds the highest concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in your body. (37)
These compounds absorb 40-90% of blue light, helping protect your retina from damage. Their strong antioxidant capacity may also reduce oxidative stress, especially important in the retina — it has the highest amount of oxidative stress in the body. (37)
These compounds could also increase eye function, allowing you to see with more clarity and be bothered less by glaring lights. (38)
Along with these optical benefits, lutein and zeaxanthin may also:
As already mentioned, these phytonutrients are associated with the colors orange and yellow. Egg yolks, orange peppers, oranges, pumpkins, and yellow corn contain lutein and zeaxanthin. (42)
But if you want a whopping dose of these phytonutrients, go for green. Kale, parsley, romaine lettuce, and spinach are excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Pistachios are surprisingly high in these phytonutrients as well. (42)
Having some other dietary fat with these foods supports your absorption of lutein and zeaxanthin. For example, don’t skip the olive oil dressing on your romaine lettuce salad if you need more of these powerful phytonutrients. (42)
Sulforaphane is a potent antioxidant and highly researched for its potential health benefits.
Animal and human cell studies suggest that sulforaphane helps lower inflammation, often associated with reducing serious health issues. Additionally, this compound may prevent these serious health issues from increasing, or spreading throughout the body. It could potentially trigger unhealthy cells to die as well. (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Alongside health properties, sulforaphane may provide benefits such as:
If you want to fill up on this substance, think green and include lots of cruciferous vegetables in your diet. Cabbage, kale, and kohlrabi are great sources. (57)
If you want to ensure you absorb sulforaphane, spice it up with mustard. Mustard helps activate this phytochemical. (58)
Eugenol may act as a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in your body. Plus, it could help eliminate parasites. (59, 60, 61, 62)
Animal, test-tube, and human cell studies suggest other eugenol benefits may include:
You can find this potent phytochemical in multiple herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg. (64, 71)
Coffee, mong beans, and soybeans have small amounts. Fruits like bananas, melons, strawberries, and tomatoes contain some eugenol as well. (64, 72, 73)
To reap the vast benefits of phytonutrients, including the five above, try eating whole foods in a variety of different colors. Since these plant nutrients can help determine food colors, similarly colored foods often share benefits. If you eat the rainbow — or eat foods from all the different color groups — you can consume lots of different phytochemicals.
Here's the general breakdown of the different color groups: (3, 4, 74, 75)
Examples of "green" foods include: asparagus, avocados, celery, cucumbers, green beans, green peppers, kale, kiwi, spinach, and zucchini.
"Green" foods may contain these phytochemicals: EGCG, glucosinolates, indoles, isoflavones, isothiocyanates, lutein and zeaxanthin, and sulforaphane
"Green" foods may help:
Examples of "purple" foods include: black beans, blackberries, eggplants, elderberries, plums, purple cabbage, purple grapes, and raisins
"Purple" foods may contain these phytochemicals: anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and resveratrol
"Purple" foods may help:
Examples of "red" foods include: cherries, cranberries, kidney beans, red beans, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelon
"Red" foods may contain these phytochemicals: anthocyanins, ellagic acid, eugenol, hesperidin, lycopene, tannins, and quercetin
"Red" foods may help:
Examples of "yellow" foods include: apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, grapefruit, yellow pears, yellow peppers, and yellow winter squash
"Yellow" foods may contain these phytochemicals: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, and hesperidin
"Yellow" foods may help:
Examples of "white" foods include: apples, cauliflower, great northern beans, mushrooms, and onions
"White" foods may contain these phytochemicals: allicin, ECGC, glucosinolates, indoles, tannins, and quercetin
"White" foods may help:
A diet rich in phytonutrients can support the human body’s ability to thrive. These compounds possess strong antioxidant activity, could help lower inflammation, and promote detoxification. They may also help protect you from pathogens, such as bacteria and parasites.
All in all, diving into colorful fruit and veggies platters may have huge wellness payoffs.
Which fruits, vegetables, and herbs are you going to add to your next shopping list?
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