SUPPORTING YOUR MICROBIOME
A plant-rich diet will support your microbiome. When the gut functions effectively and efficiently the way it is supposed to, it maintains a strong gut barrier: hosting a balanced microbiome which supports micronutrient synthesis, natural detox processes, and overall wellness. So your parents were right: we should all be eating our veggies!
Phytonutrients are natural compounds produced by plants. They help the plant to stay healthy and defend against insects, parasites, fungi and bacteria and even UV radiation. The protective attributes of phytonutrients are no surprise, thanks to their antioxidant properties. In fact, plant-derived foods offer an average of 64 times more antioxidants than animal-derived foods.
There’s a good reason why phytonutrients are considered superfoods.
Increasing the amount of phytonutrient-rich foods in your diet can support antioxidant activity and support your immune system.
There are more than 25,000 varieties of phytonutrients.
To name a few;
Carotenoids
There are more than 600 types. You can get them in bright pigmented fruits and vegetables like pumpkins, carrots, spinach, kale, tomatoes and yams.
Carotenoids act as antioxidants and some can be converted into vitamin A to support immune health and eye health.
Flavonoids
One of the largest groups of phytonutrients. Foods that are rich in flavonoids include green tea, coffee, legumes, ginger, onions, apples and grapefruit. Flavonoids are rich in antioxidants to help fight off free radicals.
Glucosinolates
Found predominantly in cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, brussels sprouts and cabbage. Glucosinolates are known to support metabolic functions in your body.
