Polyphenols in fruit and veg bring significant health benefits
Diets rich in fruit and vegetables are a great source of polyphenols, chemicals that bring a whole range of health benefits.According to Heart UK – The Cholesterol Charity, these diverse compounds, which are found in plants, include phenolic acids, ligands, stilbenes and flavonoids.
Linda Main, dietetic advisor for the charity, said: "These structurally diverse compounds show a range of activities that may help explain the cardiovascular protective properties of consuming diets high in fruit and vegetables.
"A diet rich in fruit and vegetables leads to an increased intake of some vitamins and minerals, plant fibre, and complex plant nutrients called polyphenols which act in a number of ways."
Her comments came following a report published by scientists in Canada, which indicated that eating fruit and raw vegetables can weaken genetic effects linked to heart disease.
Dr Jamie Engert, one of the lead researchers from McGill University, explained that a study of 27,000 people from different ethnic backgrounds suggested that healthy foods modify variants on the 9p21 chromosome that is a risk factor for heart disease.
