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College of Naturopathic Medicine - Phytonutrients

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Author: College of Naturopathic Medicine
Categories: Health Nutrition Science
Tags: health, nutrition, science
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 20:29 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Eat a rotation of colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, spices, and herbs so you consume a wide range of phytonutrients, since each color brings different benefits. The lecture introduces phytonutrients (also called phytochemicals) as plant-produced compounds with antioxidant properties that support health and help fight disease, with over 25,000 known examples.

Key Points

  • Phytonutrients are chemicals plants produce in response to their environment, largely to protect themselves, and also as a normal byproduct of metabolism.
  • Different colors signal different phytonutrients, so each color carries distinct properties; people consume them for both taste and color.
  • Named examples include catechins and epicatechins (found in green tea), proanthocyanidins (plant components giving rich color, such as purple and blue), and phytosterols (the plant's lipid or fat).
  • Vitamins and minerals are classed as essential for health, while phytonutrients are not, yet people who avoid them through food groups tend to decline in health and face higher risk of illness.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in each meal, aiming for a rotation of colors on the plate; also include nuts, seeds, spices, and herbs, since these are sources of phytonutrients as well.
  • The lecture is part of CNM's Naturopathic Nutrition Year One course, presented by Rhianne Jones.
  • The speaker says the phytonutrient count exceeds 25,000 compounds, with many subcategories, and the lecture covers only a handful.
  • The speaker raises an open question: whether phytonutrients are not deemed essential because their benefits are not fully understood, or because the body functions less well without them. The speaker hopes this question will be answered as the lecture progresses.
  • Health claims (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, disease fighting) are presented by the speaker as part of the course material, not as individualized professional advice.

Bottom Line

Eating a wide variety of colorful plant foods is the practical way to access the many different phytonutrients the lecture describes.