Enzymes are an essential part of our diet, and if it is not found
in food, the body must draw from its store of energy to produce enzymes for
digestion, instead of other important jobs, such as fighting disease.
Phytochemicals are nutritional substances that recently have been in the news
frequently. These are naturally occurring chemicals in plants that are thought to
possess disease-fighting properties and play a potentially important role in fighting
cancer and heart disease. Recent research demonstrates that they stimulate
enzymes that breakdown carcinogens into harmless substances, and appear to be
particularly protective against stomach and intestinal cancers.
Most whole foods contain phytochemicals, including whole grains, beans and herbs. Garlic and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, are some of the richest sources of
phytonutrients, as well as fruits like blueberries, cherries and apples.
If you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), go easy on the raw cruciferous
vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts and
rutabagas.) They are believed by some to help depress the thyroid function when
eaten raw.
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