Product Description

Consultant, dietitian, and nutritionist Lyndel Costain looks at the latest research into phytochemicals and tells the facts behind the claims and headlines. What are phytochemicals? Phytochemicals are the bio-active compounds in plants ("phyto" simply means plant) that give them their color and flavor. They are vital to plants' survival, aiding healthy growth, deterring predators and diseases, and protecting against damage from the sun. In this book, Lyndel Costain explains how phytochemicals take on a new life when we eat plant foods, and how they work to bring us lasting health benefits. Plant foods as medicine. Today, most people want to look good, feel great, and live long, active, healthy lives. Plant foods are proving to be a major ally in achieving this. With thousands of phytochemicals identified to date, compelling, ongoing research reveals the hidden power in plant foods that helps protect our health and reduce the risk of problems such as heart disease, cancer, early aging, cataracts, immune system disorders, and osteoporosis.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1072337 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-20
• Released on: 2001-07-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

New Living
...four great reference books...

Book Info
Consumer text discusses what gives plants their power, why use the word 'phytochemicals,' how phytochemicals help health, how to indulge in the Mediterranean Diet, portion guides, and helping common ailments with plant power. Abundant color illustrations. Softcover.

About the Author
Lyndel Costain B.Sc., SRD has a mission in life: to promote the pleasures and benefits of good food for good health. She was first spokesperson and public relations adviser for the British Dietetic Association (BDA) until December 1999, and now broadcasts, speaks, and writes on food and health issues, and advises PR companies with high-profile clients in the food industry. She is an expert columnist for Zest and FHM magazines in the UK, and sees private patients.

Customer Reviews

Plant Power
If you love to cook, you will especially love the gorgeous color photographs and nutritional information. Lyndel Costain is a consultant dietitian and nutritionist who is on a mission in life to promote the pleasure and benefits of good food for good health.

Lyndel looks at the latest research about phytochemicals and explains the facts behind the claims and headlines. Phytochemicals are the bio-active compounds in plants that gives them their color and flavor. Lyndel Costain explains how these phytochemicals take on a new life when we eat the plants. They actually help to bring us lasting health benefits.

Today, we all want to look good and feel healthy. There are over 12,000 phytochemicals which have been identified. These hidden powers can help us to reduce the risk of problems such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, cataracts, immune system disorders and osteoporosis.

In the first section, Phytochemicals are introduced. In part two, there is a guide to phytochemicals. This is a photographic guide to 20 phytochemicals, highlighted by 66 different food sources. In the last section, nutritional needs are discussed in detail.

So, are you getting your daily requirements? Do you know which foods are most beneficial? What is the Mediterranean Diet? Did you know that chocolate has flavanols (catechins)? Cocoa powder extracted from cocoa beans has very strong antioxidant activity. I knew it was a good idea to eat chocolate ";>. While we have also all heard of the benefits of Green Tea, this book shows how to maximize the benefits, what the key benefits are and which diseases it is more likely to help.

This book discusses the benefits of cherries, eggplant, cocoa, green tea, black tea, apples, onions, lettuce, celery, olives, oranges, grapefruit, soy beans, lentils, bean sprouts, wholewheat, linseeds, strawberries, walnuts, pecans, blackberries, blueberries, pears, plums, potatoes, turmeric, cranberries, peanuts, peppers, parsley, butternut squash, avocados, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, kale, mangoes, papaya, red pepper, corn, garlic, leeks, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, barley, oats, rye, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, artichoke, asparagus, seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, lemon, garbanzo beans, bananas, coffee (in moderation), kiwifruit and pineapple. They all sound good to me! So, put these items on your shopping list.

This is a guide to bio-active plant compounds and their benefits. It is essential reading for everyone who wishes to make more healthy food choices. There is also a section called "caution" because apparently too much of a good thing can also be bad. So, you will want to read about why you should not just eat raw lima beans all the time or eat raw cassava because it could be fatal. If you eat too much celery, your skin could also become more sensitive to sunlight. So, this book is quite an education and is only 128 pages.

So, if you hear about a "super food" and want to research it further, this book will explain everything and help you add the healthiest foods to your diet.