Much has been said about the advantages of antioxidants but did you know that they are able to help fight a number of diseases and conditions and all this from something found in plants. Many fruits and vegetables contain these compounds called ‘phytonutrients’, which have the beneficial effect of keeping us healthy by improving our immune system. Although only nine hundred if these phytonutrients have been discovered so far it is the scientist opinion that many more will be found and will change tomorrows health care needs,these protective plant compounds are an emerging area of health and nutrition, with new research reported almost daily. There have been a huge number of health benefits discovered so far from many well known foods,the anti-aging power of blueberries, the joint pain relieving properties of cherries and a whole host of powerful properties in pomegranates are just a few examples.
Blueberries contain an array of antioxidants while having a lower natural sugar content than many other fruits you can care to mention. The easiest way to inject concentrated amounts of these fruits is by drinking juice every day,these fruits have been shown to benefit the immune system and help improve the circulation. Not content with helping to prevent illness, these antioxidants also help fight disease and infection. Apples are now coming under the spotlight as potential helpers in the struggle against heart illness.
The likes of many citrus fruits also have health benefits associated with the phytochemicals they contain. Tart cherries for instance have a number of properties which work together to help people who have arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia. We have all been informed of the essential health benefits of certain vitamins and minerals but these are being looked at in depth as well. Other types of antioxidants are found in mulberries, blackberries and blueberries, called resveratrol, Phytoalexins have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
The benefits of these extend too many of the conditions which are found to be more prevalent as we age like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, blood pressure and stroke. Tomatoes too are able to help in the prevention of conditions like heart disease and some cancers. Using tomato puree (which is the concentrated form of tomatoes) as the base for your chili utilizes the antioxidants without the bulk of a whole tomato. The sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important in phytonutrients in nature. Now you know the benefits of these fruits to your health, there is no longer any reason not to use them more regularly.
