| Mother Nature has generously supplied the plant | | | | damage following stroke from blueberries)o |
| world with thousands of bioactive chemicals, in turn | | | | Chlorogenic acid (reduction of high blood pressure |
| giving protection to assure health and regeneration of | | | | from strawberries)o Ferulic acid (cancer prevention |
| the species. In each edible plant are dozens, if not | | | | from black raspberries) |
| hundreds, of phytochemicals with health benefits that | | | | Carotenoids |
| transfer to us through our diet. | | | | In plants that are red, orange, yellow or green are a |
| A simple way to grasp what phytochemicals do is to | | | | smaller family of pigments called the carotenoids. |
| understand why plants have colors in the first place. | | | | These are the pigments associated with the vivid |
| Colorful chemicals can be described as pigments in | | | | colors of corn, carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes and |
| two main classes: phenolics and carotenoids. | | | | spinach. Even though green plants have a |
| Phenolic Pigments | | | | predominance of chlorophyll - a green pigment - |
| Plant colors of blue, purple, black and red belong to | | | | carotenoids are ever present (though masked by |
| the pigment class called phenolics (or polyphenols), | | | | chlorophyll). An example of this effect occurs in |
| which includes several thousand individual chemicals | | | | spinach. Even though it is a dark green vegetable, |
| across the plant world. | | | | spinach contains high levels of a yellow carotenoid |
| Although phenolics may be grouped in as many as 11 | | | | called lutein. |
| subclasses, each with hundreds of chemicals, those | | | | Other carotenoids now seen in consumer products |
| known best in public media are the flavonoids found | | | | like vitamins and supplements include:o |
| in colorful edible plants like berries. A principal flavonoid | | | | Beta-caroteneo Lycopeneo Zeaxanthin |
| subgroup that is common in dark berries is the | | | | ("zee-a-zan-thin") |
| anthocyanins (anthos = flower, cyanin = blue, Greek). | | | | Carotenoids have two characteristics of particular |
| Anthocyanins give the brightest colors to plants, | | | | health value to us. First, they tend to dissolve best in |
| including the blue of blueberries, black of blackberries, | | | | lipids and so are concentrated in fatty parts of |
| red of cherries or rose petals, and purple of prunes | | | | human cells (like membranes, nuclear envelopes and |
| and eggplant. | | | | the sheaths of nerves close to critical functions of |
| Pigments provide two general functions to plants. Via | | | | these cell components). Second, carotenoids typically |
| their scent, flavor, and color, pigments serve to | | | | have numerous double-bonds between carbon atoms, |
| attract pollinators and assure continuation of the | | | | a highly effective source of electrons needed in |
| species. Secondly, they act as a defensive shell of | | | | antioxidation processes. |
| acidic protectors guarding against bacteria, viruses, | | | | Simply for the above reason, carotenoids are thought |
| fungi and other pests. This category includes | | | | to be more powerful dietary antioxidants than |
| antioxidant roles necessary to neutralize the effects | | | | phenolics. With carotenoids in cell lipids and phenolics in |
| of constant exposure to the sun, ultraviolet radiation | | | | cell water, phytochemicals from a diet of colorful |
| and production of free radicals during photosynthesis. | | | | plants act in concert to protect our organs from |
| Following digestion from eating pigmented foods like | | | | potential damage by radical oxygen and nitrogen |
| berries, phenolics distribute throughout the body's | | | | species. |
| water compartments. This includes the inside of cells | | | | In ongoing basic research on animals, carotenoids |
| where oxidative reactions are occurring second by | | | | have been linked to broad health benefits including:o |
| second throughout life. Phenolics (and carotenoids | | | | Eye diseaseso Cardiovascular diseaseso Cancero |
| below) are the antioxidants that neutralize oxidation | | | | Psoriasiso Inflammationo Viral infections |
| reactions from free radicals that can damage cell | | | | Summary of health benefits: Enrich your dietary |
| structures and contribute to disease and aging. | | | | content of phenolics and carotenoids by eating a |
| Simply stated, humans can increase their defenses | | | | variety of the most brightly colored vegetables and |
| against disease by eating colorful plants. Preliminary | | | | fruits! |
| evidence for this benefit comes from a host of | | | | Reading |
| research studies on animals and in limited human | | | | * Heber D, What Color is Your Diet?, 2001, |
| clinical trials. Theses studies show positive results by | | | | HarperCollins, New York. |
| phenolics against:o Cancero Cardiovascular diseaseo | | | | * Joseph JA, Nadeau DA, Underwood A. The Color |
| Thrombosis (blood clots)o Inflammationo Diabetes | | | | Code, 2002, Hyperion, New York. |
| Phenolics appearing in public media over recent years | | | | * Lee J, Koo N, Min DB. Reactive oxygen species, |
| include:o Proanthocyanidins (anti-cancer effect from | | | | aging, and antioxidative nutraceuticals. Comprehen |
| grape seeds)o Resveratrol (protective effect against | | | | Rev Food Sci and Food Safety 3:21-33, 2004. |
| cardiovascular disease from red grapes and dark | | | | Copyright 2006 Berry Health Inc. |
| wines)o Anthocyanins (protection against brain | | | | |