Phytochemicals- Energize Health & Life

“Phytochemicals” are the chemicals found in the plants. “Phyto” is a Greek word for plants. They are naturally occurring in plants. They are Plant’s Bio-active components. They act as a defense system for the plants. They provide colour, aroma and flavor to the plants. Phytochemicals not only protect plants but they also help human beings to lead a healthy life. They are power packed plant nutrients as they protect human beings against dreaded cardiac diseases and cancer.

The sources of Phytochemicals are Plants and Plant Products. Some food sources of Phytochemicals are: carrots, cabbage, onion, garlic, water melon, soya beans, mangoes, papaya, oats, barley, brown rice, grapes, whole wheat, ginger, mint, green tea, apples, pomegranates etc,. The intake of phytochemicals should be from the dietary sources and not from the supplements. Nearly Four thousand phytochemicals are identified in plants.

They are classified and grouped based on their function or based on the food source. They are Flavonoids, Phytoestrogens, Phytosterols, and Carotenoids. Alkaloids, Phytophenols, and sulphur compounds. Flavonoids enhance the effects of vitamin c and function as antioxidants. They are abundantly found in vegetables, fruits and tea. They are biologically active against liver toxins, allergies, inflammation, tumors and other viruses.

There are several types of Flavonoids. Their functions are: They reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, by increasing the level of good cholesterol. They protect lungs from the harmful effects of pollutants and cigarette smoke. They reduce the risk of blood clots in cancer and heart patients. They help to prevent urinary tract infections. They induce the death of cancerous cells in leukemia patients.

Phytoestrogens are plant compound that counteract the effects of estrogen. Isoflavone is a type of Phytoestrogen present in soy helpful in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Phytosterols are abundantly found in seeds of green and yellow vegetables. They reduce the dietary cholesterol absorbed by the body and facilitate its excretion from the body. So, they reduce the chances of getting sudden cardiac arrest.

















Carotenoids are the type of phytochemicals found in yellow, orange, red fruits and vegetables. There are two distinct types of carotenoids. They are Xanthophylls and Carotene. Carotenes protect vitamin A and vitamin E from oxidation. They eliminate the toxins and pollutants from the body. Hence, they enhance the immune system. Xanthophylls protect the skin from sunlight, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and help in blood clotting.

Alkaloids are found in tea, coffee, cocoa, green tea. Anthocyanin, an alkaloid is present in dark purple grapes. They stimulate our nerves. Phytophenols protect us from ultra violet radiation. They are powerful antioxidants. They boost our immune system.

Phytophenols are abundantly present in strawberries, Blue berries, grapes. Phytochemicals belonging to the group of Sulphur Compounds are available in Garlic and Onion. They help us fight against cancer, heart diseases.

Present day life style has changed to a large extent. Both men and women have work to fulfill the needs of the family. Employed mothers find it difficult to balance both family and work. Therefore children are eating fast foods and junk foods. Fast and junk foods contain fats, sugar, sodium and other chemicals. Consuming these foods every day, urban school going children are suffering from diseases like Blurred vision, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, High cholesterol level in their blood, Kidney problems as kidneys cannot filter the salt and eliminate it through urine, Pain in the abdomen, Head ache due to tension or indigestion.

School going children eat pizzas, burgers, chocolates, cakes, wafers, biscuits, candies, cheese, ice creams and varieties of soft drinks. These food items contain either Trans fatty acids or saturated fatty acids. All these food items have high percentage of fats called triglycerides. Soft drinks contain pesticides and high percentage of alcohol.

Foods containing Trans Fats and saturated fats are not essential food items as they do not promote growth in children. Saturated fats and Trans Fats increase the risk of cholesterol and coronary heart diseases If we analyse the fast foods available critically, they are sold in plastic bags or tin cans. Both plastic cans and tin cans are bad storage materials as they involve unfriendly chemicals that will harm the stomach and the intestine of young kids.

To prepare the fast foods vegetable oils like palm oil and hydrogenated vegetable oils are used. Though palm oil is an unsaturated fat it contains high amount of triglycerides. Therefore it will reduce the level of good cholesterol and increase the level of bad cholesterol.

Hydrogenated vegetable oils contain Trans Fats, saturated fats and nickel in its fine form in traces. Research shows that the presence of Nickel in fine powder form in foods prepared from hydrogenated vegetable oil is responsible for blurred vision in children.

The junk food items are prepared by reusing the burnt oil. All types of vegetable oil degrade when heated because majority of them do not have high tolerance to heat. Prolonged consumption of burnt vegetable oil causes diseases like thickening of arteries, inflammatory joint diseases, etc.

With several health disorders children are unable to cope up with their studies. All these diseases appear as symptoms. It results in memory loss or forgetfulness and poor performance in studies. They have short span of attention. They also do not show any interest in sports activities. They feel Lazy forever. They are unable to concentrate in studies and other academic activities due to sedentary life style. This is because blood with essential nutrients is not reaching all the tissues and cells.

Children are facing lot of tension because of Tests and Examinations. They are very anxious about their performance in their studies. Life has become more challenging to them because there is a lot of competition and they face parental pressures. Therefore they require lot of stamina to withstand any type of emergency.

With the changing life style one has to change the diet to face the life’s challenges. Their diet should be more of fruits and vegetable servings. That will help them to get proper quota of plant compounds daily to withstand the stress and strain of life. After all, the essential plant compounds are “Phyto Protectants and Energizers of our health”.