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The Miracle Nutrient for Super Strong Immunity

By Cindy Papp

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 16Dec2008 Word count: 516 Viewed: 266 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Up until recently, a super strong immune system was considered to be only for the genetically gifted. However we now know that we can build our own super strong immunity.

Normally, nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals and fats are the ones we pay attention to since they are considered essential for life. But there's a new nutrient to pay attention to.

Phytonutrients are nutrients supplied by the plants we eat including fruits and vegetables. They are a class of nutrients that are not considered "essential," because they are thought to be non-essential for life.

You may have heard of some of these; carotenoids, flavenoids, isoflavones, lignans and phenols being among them. They are antioxidants, natural detoxifiers of the body, they repair DNA damage, enhance the immune response, covert to Vitamin A, and even cause cancer cells to die.

Your best source of phytonutrients are fruits, vegetables and certain teas. Some whole grains also contain them.

Carotenoids are the most commonly researched. They protect against free radical damage and oxidative damage. This gives you protection against certain cancers, especially of the lung, skin, cervix, and uterine. They promote growth of healthy cells, which will replace diseased cells.

Carotenoids also help protect you from heart disease and heart attacks. They inhibit the formation of bad or harmful cholesterol. They also filter out harmful UV rays which can protect your skin and even keep free radicals from causing retina damage in your eyes.

The major carotenoids are beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein. They are found in yellow, orange, red and green vegetables and fruits. Some of these include carrots, beets, bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes and lettuce.

Polyphenols are a type of phytonutrients that became well known when discovered to be abundant in wine and green tea. They protect the nerves from damage and are anti-carcinogens, which means they protect you from cancers.

These phytonutrients also protect you from heart disease, lower blood pressure, and improve blood flow. They reduce internal inflammation, which is a factor in a number of degenerative diseases.

Lignans are phytonutrients found in unrefined grains, legumes, seeds and certain vegetables. These include flax seeds,sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, garlic, kale, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower among others.

Lignans are powerful nutrients. Some studies have reported eating foods containing these phytoestrogens reduce the risk of prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancers.

Some studies have shown that lignans protect against osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The oils of some of these foods, such as flax oil, are believed by some to help balance the endocrine, or hormonal system.

Plant phenols are another category of phytonutrients. The scientific community believes them to be strong antioxidants. In addition they may protect against oxidative damage to DNA, which can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease. They are believed to interfere at every stage of cancer formation, which may reduce the overall risk.

Finally, medical research is proving what we have always instinctively known, eat your fruits and vegetables to stay healthy with super strong immunity. It may be that phytonutrients are more essential than you thought.

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