Phytochemicals+and+Antioxidants

For this Chapter 7 discussion area, you are to research and locate different types of antioxidants and phytochemicals. What foods are supposedly the "healthiest" because of the phytochemicals and antioxidants that they contain? How do they work? What is the phytochemical that is found in ketchup (it's shown on several ketchup labels now)  

Research and locate different types of antioxidants and phytochemicals. · Antioxidants o Substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as [|heart disease], macular degeneration, diabetes, [|cancer] etc are all contributed by oxidative damage. Indeed, a recent study conducted by researchers from London found that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection. o Most Commonly Known Antioxidants  § [|Vitamin A] and Carotenoids  · Carrots, [|squash], broccoli, sweet potatoes, [|tomatoes] , kale, [|collards] , cantaloupe, [|peaches] and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!) § <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontweight: normal; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Vitamin C] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, [|strawberries] and tomatoes <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontweight: normal; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Vitamin E] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> [|Nuts & seeds], [|whole grains] , green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontweight: normal; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Selenium] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Fish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">[]

<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Phytochemicals <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. It is well-known that plant produce these chemicals to protect itself but recent research demonstrate that they can protect humans against diseases. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Some of the well-known phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes, isoflavones in soy and flavanoids in fruits <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Phytochemicals are naturally present in many foods but it is expected that through bioengineering new plants will be developed, which will contain higher levels. This would make it easier to incorporate enough phytochemicals with our food. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">[]

<span style="display: none; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-hide: all; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msohide: all; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="display: none; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-hide: all;">



<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> What foods are supposedly the "healthiest" because of the phytochemicals and antioxidants that they contain? How do they work? <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Of all the nuts, [|walnuts are the highest in antioxidant activity]. They actually contain melatonin, which many of us know as a sleep aid. But melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and its presence in walnuts is what boosts the nutritional impact of the walnut. Melatonin may reduce risk of cancer and delay diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. They also contain ellagic acid and gamma-tocopherol (don't worry about these big words, just know they are good antioxidants). <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-themecolor: text2; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore; msothemecolor: text2;">o __<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-themecolor: text2; msothemecolor: text2;">[] __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">There is no disagreement that blueberries are healthy and contain antioxidants and there has not been any contradicting evidence that blueberries can help prevent cancer. Generally, blueberries have been thought to help slow the spread of cancer cells and eliminate free radicals. While many sources agree that blueberries do contain antioxidants, there are several theories as to which compounds within the fruit are actually the antioxidants agent or agents. The World’s Healthiest Foods claims that the cancer preventing agents are anthocyanidins, pterostilbene, ellagic acid and phenolic compounds. An article from Vital Choices claims that it’s the polyphenol pigment in blueberries (caused by anthocyanins) that is the cancer-preventing agent. Yet another source, News Target, says that blueberries contain phytochemicals and flavenoids that make blueberries an antioxidant. Finally, the Wellness Directory of Minnesota says that blueberries contain resveratrol and ellagic acids that give them their cancer-fighting properties. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">[]

What is the phytochemical that is found in ketchup (it's shown on several ketchup labels now)? <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You should use tomato ketchup as condiment on your meals instead of mayonnaise. Not only does ketchup contain a lot less calories, it is rich in the phytochemical lycopene. However, you should check that it is real ketchup made from tomatoes and does not contain colourings. Lycopene is found in fresh tomatoes but cooking breaks down the cell wall and increase the availability of lycopene. Research indicates that lycopene and tomato products lower the risk of some cancers and heart diseases. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

Christine (Beth) Wynn ____________________________________________________________________________________________

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. It is well-known that plants produce these chemicals to protect itself but recent research demonstrate that they can protect humans against diseases. Some of the well-known phytochemicals include: lycopene in tomatoes (would also be the phytochemical found in ketsup) isoflavones in soy flavanoids in fruits. They are not essential nutrients and are not required by the human body for sustaining life.

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc are all contributed by oxidative damage. Indeed, a recent study conducted by researchers from London found that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection. Common foods that contain antioxidants include: Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes - vitamin A Citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes - vitamin C Nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil - vitamin E

www.healthcastle.com

Matt Ryba _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

<span style="display: none; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-hide: all; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msohide: all; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="display: none; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-hide: all;">



<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-themecolor: text2; msothemecolor: text2;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">