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(ARA) - These days, more and more health conscious consumers are making smart eating choices based on nutritional compounds that have been around forever but that scientists are finally beginning to understand. These natural plant compounds are called phytonutrients. But try scanning the label of that bottle of juice or bag of spinach. You probably won’t find a single mention of them on the nutritional label . . . yet. Just wait. ”Nutrition science has long been focused on macronutrients such as protein, fats and carbohydrates, and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals,” explains registered dietitian Carla McGill, Ph.D. “Now, emerging science tells us that there is another important nutritional category we need to be paying attention to: phytonutrients, which simply means nutrients derived from plants.”
The variety of color we find in fruits and vegetables hints at the variety of phytonutrients found in those plant foods. While many of us are beginning to understand the value of consuming fruits and vegetables, we still don’t get enough in our diets every day and do not get the broad array of the color spectrum of fruits and vegetables. Strangely enough, it’s the blue/purple category, which is noted particularly for its potential cardiovascular health and cognitive benefits, that is the most underrepresented category. Concord grape juice is a great example. It, like its famous cousin, red wine, may provide important cardiovascular benefits that are, says McGill, likely due to the potent plant compounds it contains.
The Department of Agriculture confirms that both Concord grape juice and red wine are chock-full of phytonutrients. When the USDA published a new database last year measuring quantities of one important group of phytonutrients in common beverages, Concord grape juice measured highest on a per serving basis, followed closely by red wine. The rest of the pack trailed by a significant margin. This group of phytonutrients, called proanthocyanidins, is of particular interest to medical researchers because, at a minimum, they are known to function as potent natural antioxidants.
Powerful Antioxidants . . . and More
Nutrition experts now say that phytonutrients are a major source of dietary antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage. Many scientists believe they offer protection against heart disease and cancer, and conditions related to aging such as the loss of mental acuity and motor skills. With recent studies casting doubt on the effectiveness of antioxidant supplementation, the need to get our antioxidants naturally from food becomes all the more important.
“Antioxidants appear to be extremely important for healthy cardiovascular function, but there appears to be much more to the phytonutrient story,” explains Dr. John Folts of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. “We and others have conducted a great deal of research into the benefits of red wine and Concord grape juice. With both red wine and Concord grape juice, we have seen effects like reducing the tendency of the blood to form clots, improved arterial function and flexibility, and improved blood pressure. Not all of these effects can be directly attributed to just the antioxidant activity. There may be other beneficial effects at work as well.”
New Research Underscores the Importance of Phytonutrients
In early April, Dr. Folts’ team presented laboratory research at the Experimental Biology meeting that showed drinking Concord grape juice inhibited the development of blocked arteries, increased the levels of HDL - the “good” cholesterol - and reduced blood pressure.
Likewise, a recent issue of the journal Biofactors reported on a Korean study where participants drinking juice made from Concord grapes for 8 weeks showed a reduction in blood pressure.
“While these studies are preliminary,” notes Dr. Folts, “there are now literally hundreds of studies supporting the health benefits of grape juice and red wine, and these new findings are in line with what we have seen before.”
Your Mother Was Right
The growing understanding of the health benefits of phytonutrients only supports what moms have been telling kids for years: “Eat your fruits and vegetables.”
“This is another example of science catching up to what common sense has told us for a long time,” says Dr. McGill. “Nutrition experts have long advised eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables; and the government’s new dietary guidelines stress this even more. Phytonutrient research is now helping us understand why this is so important.”
And how, if there is no mention of phytonutrients on food labels, are consumers supposed to know what foods to eat? Dr. McGill has a final thought.
“Over the next several years we will start seeing more and more interest in the relative phytonutrient content of our foods. Until then, consumers should try to eat a wide variety of richly-colored fruits and vegetables, and include that too-often-left-behind purple/blue category. Perhaps you might enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner, and have a glass of Concord grape juice as a snack, or enjoy a “Get your purple smoothie” to start your day. And remember, get lots of variety, and eat everything in moderation. Enjoy a healthy diet as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.”
Good advice.
Courtesy of ARA Content
