What are phytochemicals?

Answer 1

Phytochemicals are naturally occurring chemical compounds in plant-based foods.

Phytochemicals protect plants against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and also provide plants with color, odor, and flavor. Because they can also influence the chemical processes inside your body in ways that benefit your health, they are often referred to as "phytonutrients" or even "nutraceuticals"; however, the term is generally used to refer to those chemicals that may have biological significance but are not established as essential nutrients.

In the past, the phytochemicals were classified as vitamins: Flavonoids were known as vitamin P, glucosinolates and indoles were called vitamin U, and ubiquinone was vitamin Q. Tocopherol continues to be known as vitamin E. Scientists stopped giving them vitamin designation because they couldn't establish specific deficiency symptoms.

More recent research has enabled scientists to group phytochemicals into classes on the basis of similar protective functions as well as individual physical and chemical characteristics of the molecules. The action of phytochemicals varies by color and type of the food. They may act as antioxidants or nutrient protectors, or prevent carcinogens (cancer causing agents) from forming.

Answer 2

what id phytochemicals