Phytonutrients are powerful chemical substances found in fruits and vegetables that play an important role in maintaining good health and preventing disease. For example, the phytonutrients found in apples help regulate and prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.
Polyphenols, one of several families of phytonutrients, give fruits and other foods their characteristic color, taste, and aroma. They protect our cells and tissues from free radicals, which are molecules that can cause damage by attaching to our cell membranes, DNA, and proteins.
Phytonutrients are powerful chemical substances found in fruits and vegetables that play an important role in maintaining good health and preventing disease. For example, the phytonutrients found in apples help regulate and prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.
Polyphenols, one of several families of phytonutrients, give fruits and other foods their characteristic color, taste, and aroma. They protect our cells and tissues from free radicals, which are molecules that can cause damage by attaching to our cell membranes, DNA, and proteins.
Quick Facts
- The highest concentration of nutrients in an apple is in and just under the skin, so leave apples unpeeled.
- Eat two apples a day and cut your risk of stroke by nearly one-third.
- Eat fresh apples to keep your teeth clean and to massage your gums.
- Apples contain pectin, a soluble fiber that encourages beneficial bacteria to grow in the digestive tract.
- Increase your endurance during exercise by eating an apple beforehand. Quercetin, a polyphenol found in apples, makes oxygen more available in your lungs.