For
nearly a century, fruits and vegetables have been recognized as a good
source of certain nutrients. The USDA and National Institutes of Health
recommend five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Unfortunately, about 70 % of Americans do not get the recommended
amounts of fruits and vegetables daily. The beneficial nutrients in
fruits and vegetables are made up of "phytonutrients" and these
nutrients have complex functions.
- flavonoids - Plant Chemicals that act like antioxidants
- saponins - Complex plant nutrients
- phenols - Organic compounds in fruits and vegetables
- carotenoids - Vitamin A like compounds
- isothiocyanates - Sulphur - containing compounds
- dietary fiber
- glucosinolates - found exclusively in cruciferous vegetables
- phytoestrogens - natural estrogens that help maintain normal
hormone levels.
"The average person suffers from an annual fruit and vegetable
deficit ranging from a low of 219 servings to a high of 1,679 servings."
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