Fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods are packed with healthy 
compounds known as phytochemicals, in addition to vitamins, minerals, and fiber. From anthocyanins (the red pigment in strawberries and cherries) to allylic sulfides (responsible for the pungent flavor of garlic and onions), these phytochemicals may be responsible for some of the disease-preventing effects of fruits and vegetables.
Phytochemicals have no nutritive value — that is, they are not vitamins or minerals — but they may have positive effects on the body over the long term. Possible beneficial effects include inhibiting tumor formation, preventing blood clots, blocking the cancer-promoting effect of certain hormones, and lowering cholesterol levels.
Follow these tips to increase the phytochemicals in your diet.
Consume a plant-based diet. Try to eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day (including 3 cups of legumes a week) and six servings of grain products each day. Vary the choices to get a wide range of phytochemicals, focusing on dark green vegetables, red and orange fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.
Season foods with herbs and spices. These seasonings also contain phytochemicals. Try using garlic, shallots, ginger, basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, cumin, curry powder, cayenne pepper, red chili pepper, and cinnamon, to name a few.
Source: John Hopkins Medicine: Nutrition and Weight Control Health Alert
My Comments
It is very unlikely that you or anyone will consume 9 servings of vine ripened fruits and vegetables per day. The FDA actually recommends that you consume 10-18 serving of fruits and veggies per day for a healthy diet. This is even more unlikely.
According to the USDA, current estimates indicate that less than 11% of the the people in America eat the daily recommended amounts or fruits and veggies.
The question is … Why would they ever suggest such a thing?
The answer is … science has proven that vine ripened fruits and veggie are packed with vital and essential nutrients.
Unfortunately, due to mass farming practices, mineral depleted soil, and green harvesting. It is virtually impossible to get vine ripened fruits and veggies unless you have your own garden or shop for and buy local produce. While some do this, most people do not.
I discovered recently at my local farmers market that a booth can say their produce is locally grown if 51% of the inventory is locally grown. This means 49% might not be.
The lesson here: Get to know your farmers and where their produce comes from!
Here’s an example that blew my mind. In order for a woman to get the 
recommended daily amount of Vitamin A in 1951, she would have to eat 2 peaches.
Do you want to know how many she wold have to consume today?
Get ready ladies…I hope you are hungry… 52 peaches!
Is that incredible or what?
The best solution that I have found to meet my nutritional needs is to find and take real food technology supplements. This is referred to as Intelligent Supplementation. Don’t you feel smarter already?
The reason they are called this is these are pre-digested plant sourced vitamins and minerals which are highly absorbable by your body. That just makes sense doesn’t it?
Don’t be misled by the producers of vitamins or super juices who create nano-sized or synthetic nutrients. Your body simply can not effectively process synthetic nutrients, it can only effectively process real food and real nutrients.
Be Smart, Be Well!
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for the info. Terry…it is true that it is difficult to get one’s full compliment of nutrients daily from the food that we eat…it simply is the way it is. Every person that I know needs to supplement in some degree or another. We need to find high energetic food supplements which rules out the majority of things you can purchase at the store. I completely encourage people to get educated!
Thanks again Terry!
.-= Bruce Backman´s last blog ..I Don’t Want Your HealthCare… =-.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:29 am
You are 100% correct Bruce. We must realize that our is not want it once was and we all must be proactive to protect ourselves and to ensure our bodies get the fuel it needs to run in a peek state. This is really no different that a performance race car.
Be Well!
Terry
.-= Terry Petrovick´s last blog ..Are Phytochemicals Essential for Good Health? =-.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Terry, It’s amazing. People who are eating fruit and vegetables everyday STILL may not be getting the nutrition their body needs. What you are getting is a wide array of pesticides, chemicals, fertilizers, and preservatives. Hmm. Hmm. Good. I think not.
What we have now is a society that is being slowly poisoned. It’s no wonder we are having a higher incidence of many medical maladies.
What exactly can we do Tery?
.-= Chris Kilber´s last blog ..You Have To Love What You Do =-.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Chris,
I couldn’t agree more. People have no clue what they are putting into their bodies and just think when something goes wrong they’ll go to the doctor and get something to fix it.
Then the train wreck really starts because the drug they give you to fix the existing problem, causes another 3 to 5 problems, but most of society just accepts that as the way it is and don’t realize they can do something about it.
Have a great day everyone!
Scott Watkins
September 26th, 2009 at 4:32 am
…and don’t forget Scott, many people are seen by multiple doctors and in many cases no one looks at the body as a whole to see what’s wrong.
My dad is currently dealing with prostrate cancer and the team of doctors have not been working as a team which can lead to lots of problems.
The health care system in America is not about health care it is about sick care.
Unfortunately, while we pay more for medical needs (drugs and procedures) the World Health Organization ranks the USA at #77 which is horrible.
Prevention is the key to protecting your family from many of these problems.
I believe it four corner stones…
1) Exercise
2) Drinking lots of quality water
3) Eating 5-7 superfoods per day (minimum)
4) Intelligent Supplementation
Be Well My Friends!
September 25th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Bruce & Terry,
You guys hit it RIGHT on the head!
Spread the word!
Enjoy the weekend!
Scott
September 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Right on Terry! This is a chronic problem we are having in here in our country! It’s such a shame. Most people don’t know this and even when we do (i.e. you and me) they make it so difficult for us to actually try and get the good wholesome fuel we want to put in our bodies! ughh! so frustrating…but knowing is half the battle!
Thanks for spreading the word!
Eleni
.-= Eleni Liapakis´s last blog ..What It Was Like To Crew An Anthony Robbins Event….Part 2 =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hey Eleni, it is a problem in many developed countries thanks to the marketing hype of the good old USA.
We need to be an example for others and help those who want to be helped.
Thanks for your insight Eleni!
Be Well,
Terry
September 27th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Great article!! I was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago and decided I was going to control my blood sugar with medications. I exercise, eat a well balance diabetic diet and take a special mixture of nutrient supplements. One of the supplements is a product called Core Greens, a phytonutrient and chlorophyll product. I have taken my A1c from a 11.7 to a 4.7. Your article helps people to understand the need for better products. We are not getting the nutrients we need even when we are are eating healthy.
Thanks
.-= Steve Feller´s last blog ..A Company With True Compassion =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Hi Steve, congrats man for taking responsibility for your health. This is something that is easy to do and easy not to do. Hope you are exercising and drinking lots of filtered water too!
Be Well,
Terry
September 28th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Hi Terry, Great post. I think more people actually know what they need to do but it is like they just do not want to hear it. Eating right and exercising takes discipline and it just seems like so many people are not willing to make the changes necessary to be healthier. On the flip side, when you do make the switch to a healthier lifestyle, it is not always easy to find the “good stuff”. Sometimes it can be a real challenge. We all need to keep posting information like this in an effort to see more change.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:36 am
HI Kellie,
Right on!
As a marathon runner I’m always looking for ways to fuel my body more effectively. I discovered for myself that life is a balance and so is my diet. Intelligent supplementation has been key for slowing my aging process down. At 52, many people think I’m in my 40s and even my 30s.
We all need to remember…garbage in–garbage out. Good stuff in–good stuff out.
Be Well,
Terry
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Terry,
Phytochemicals are so good for your Endrocrine system.Its a shame we can’t get the nutrients from our foods anymore. The bigger problem are all the people that still believe you can.Those same people think buying a bottle of 500 vitamins for $10 is a DEAL! I tell them a DEAL for the septic system.
I know I am preaching to the choir because you seem to agree with my way of thinking.
Thanks for the great article.
Beverly
.-= Beverly Monical´s last blog ..October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month =-.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
That’s right Beverly. I actually have a friend in Iowa who empties septic tanks for a living.
And he says he can still read Centrum’s label. Think about that.
One A Day has about a 7% absorption rate.
Unless vitamins and minerals a predigested plants and put into a supplement none of them are much good. Plant sourced vitamins and mineral have 100% absorption because your body basically digest them like they are a salad.
If you are interested in learning more…let me know.
Be Well,
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Hi Terry
I really thought you were about 42…lol.
I searched for ways of branding myself on Sunday not knowing what primary company you was involved in and hitting that return button has kinda killed 3 birds with one stone.
I watched a J Budd video and it was linked to you…lol
My health is what I have to get in key and in UK Mannatech is not a name everyone knows. The one that helps you lose weight with herbshake is one we all know.
Looking on ways to better my diabetes is what I want.
Is core greens part of Mannatech products?
Phytochemicals is not a buzz word over here yet. We are still getting a grips with glycemic index…lol