Phytonutrients are nutrients that come from plant material that have actually been revealed to be required for preserving human life. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that contain defensive, disease-preventing, materials. Their duty in plants is to protect the plants from illness, injuries, insects, drought, extreme heat, ultraviolet rays, and also toxins or contaminants in the air or soil. They are part of the plants immune system.
Although phytochemicals are not yet categorized as nutrients, compounds necessary for maintaining life, they have actually been shown to possess properties for aiding in disease prevention. Phytochemicals are linked with the prevention and/or treatment of at the very least four of the leading causes of death in Western countries– diabetes, heart attack, cancer, and high blood pressure. They are involved in many processes that help in avoiding cell damage, prevent cancer cells cell replication, as well as reduce cholesterol levels.
One of the most crucial groups of phytochemicals are the phytosterols or phytohormones as they are sometimes known. These are plant based sterols that serve as forerunners to human sterols. They act to modulate the human endrocrine system. One of one of the most vital human sterols is Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This bodily hormone is created in our adrenal glands and is useful in many ways. It is often called the ‘mother’ hormone as it has the capability to transform itself into various other hormones such as o estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and corticosterone, on demand. Thus it is a forerunner to all various other hormones as well as active metabolites. Precursors are substances the body makes use of to create various other elements.
Scientific research reveals that sufficient DHEA in the physical body could slow the aging process in people, and avoid, or reverse conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, memory loss, obesity, and also osteoporosis. DHEA blood levels peak between ages 20 to 25 years and then decline with age in both men and women.
DHEA is the precursor of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. That is, our physical body makes cortisol and also adrenaline from DHEA. When our body makes these bodily hormones, DHEA degrees decline. With our demanding lives it is no wonder that lots of people have deficient levels of DHEA and also the clinical problems, and also the types of degenerative illness mentioned above.