You will find phytonutrients in plants, including fruits, grains, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seeds. Phytonutrients are naturally occurring compounds that protect the plant from certain risks, including damage caused by insects, UV radiation, and disease.
Those same protective compounds can work in the human body. When you eat phytonutrients, you are supporting your body’s cellular health. You can reduce inflammation and defend your body against chronic disease. This is one of the ways that food can serve as medicine.
The prefix “phyto” simply means plant. Phytonutrients are responsible for much of the color, flavor, and aroma in plant foods. The deep red of a tomato, the rich purple of blueberries, the bright orange of a sweet potato? These colors reveal plants that are rich in phytonutrients.
There are thousands of phytonutrients identified so far, and researchers are still working to understand the full scope of what they do. Some of the most well-known include flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, and glucosinolates. Each group has its own range of benefits and tends to concentrate on different types of foods.
One of the most practical takeaways from the science around phytonutrients is the value of eating a wide variety of colorful plant foods. Different colors generally indicate different compounds, so a diverse, colorful plate is also a more protective one.
Phytonutrients are not classified as essential nutrients the way vitamins and minerals are, but the research on their role in long-term health is compelling. They are one of the strongest arguments for making plants the foundation of daily eating.