Free Essay on Phytochemicals

Introduction
Phytochemical is a more recent term that came into use instead of term nutraceutical that was first implied by Stephen de Felice who was the director of New York’s Foundation for Innovation in Medicine. However, the term phytonutrient would describe the essence of the element best.

Phytochemicals are the elements that are responsible for the taste (for example bitterness), color (red color of tomatoes, paper) and other features of fruits and vegetables. But their importance for a human body is as significant as for the plants. The consumption of those elements plays a vital role in human health, ability to fight diseases and length of life.

According to the Morton, 1993 studies are showing that as we move away from the diet of our ancestors, we succumb to “modern” diseases. Evidence of this can be seen in societies such as the centenarian tribes that live in remote villages in the Andes Mountains and who still embrace traditional dietary practices. These people have been reported to live extraordinarily long lives that are free of such illnesses as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.