PHYTOCHEMICALS - GUARDIANS OF OUR HEALTH (REPRINTED FROM ISSUES IN VEGETARIAN DIETETICS, VOL 5, PG 1-8, 1996)

Consuming a diet rich in plant foods will provide a milieu of phytoche micals, nonnutritive substances in plants that possess health-protecti ve benefits. Nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables contain an abu ndance of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, pigments, and other natural antioxidants that have been associated with protection from and/or tre atment of chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension as well as other medical conditions. The foods and herbs with the highest anticancer activity include garlic, soybeans, cabbag e, ginger, licorice, and the umbelliferous vegetables. Citrus, in addi tion to providing an ample supply of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and pectin, contains a host of active phytochemicals. The phytochemic als in grains reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.