category: scientific basics

phytochemicals, phytonutrients de.: Phytochemikalien, Sekundäre Pflanzenstoffe, SPS

Phytochemicals are chemicals or nutrients in plants. They are also called phytonutrients. Phytochemicals are beneficial to health although not necessarily needed for human body functions. They can be found in seeds, in leafs as a protection against pests (predators) and in fruits. Some of these chemicals can help to prevent or treat cancer, others are antimicrobial or lower the cholesterol level. In the food industry some phytochemicals are added to food products and sold in supermarkets as functional food.