Phytonutrients

The idea to optimize one’s health by using botanicals dates back to at least 4th Century BC. Documents written by Hippocrates on the use of herbs for therapeutics can be found from the Roman Era.

Many centuries later, we now have even more knowledge of the exact biochemical pathways that are responsible for these therapeutic effects.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? 🌱

These are natural compounds found in plants. In the plant itself, these compounds are generated as a self-defense mechanism to fight against infections, pests, environmental stressors etc.

Much to our relief, these same compounds can have a beneficial role in human bodies as well.

4 major classes of phytochemicals/secondary metabolites:

🥦𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬

🍅𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐬

☕️𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬

🥦𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬

With more research we now know that the above compounds can get rid of toxins, boost the immune system, improve cardiovascular health, induce death of cancer cells etc. just to name a few!

So bottom line is eat more vegetables and fruits

Until next time,

Shiven Chaudhry, MD 🧘‍♂️👨🏽‍⚕️