Fruits and vegetables are the foundation that our diets should be based on. They include critical nutrients which work synergistically together for a healthy body.

	Antioxidants - all the metabolic processes our bodies go through every second produce free radicals which damage cells (causing disease such as cancer) - which is called oxidation. Antioxidants protect our cells from these free radicals.
	Enzymes - the human body cannot function without enzymes - they are responsible for thousands of chemical reactions in the body. They can be destroyed by heat, so eating foods raw is the best way to keep the enzymes intact.
	Phytochemicals - these are plant nutrients, many with antioxidant properties that are found to have many cooperative functions with vitamins and minerals. Scientists are just beginning to discover and name these (lycopene, lutein). A tomato is believed to have over 10,000 phytochemicals.
	Flavonoids - plants produce these to protect themselves from parasites, bacteria and cell injury. They are powerful antioxidants which help protect the antioxidant vitamins from oxidative damage.
	Vitamins - these are essential to life. C & B vitamins are excreted from the body in 4 to 24 hours, so must be taken into the body daily, A,D,E, and K are stored in body for a longer periods. Both can be toxic if too much of a vitamin is taken in an isolated form. The government has set upper limits (UL) for the intake of vitamins. Vitamins can be destroyed by heat, light and chemical processing.
	Minerals - are essential for the proper utilization of vitamins and other nutrients. Minerals can also be lost in the cooking or food refining process.
	Fiber - is necessary for a healthy digestive system, as well as helping to clean out our body from toxins, cholesterol and stabilizing blood sugar.

The best guarantee to getting the greatest amount of nutrients listed above is to buy ripe, organic produce (free of pesticides).