CropPharms

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients (aka phytochemicals) are compounds found in plants that protect the plant from things like the sun's harsh rays or predatory bugs. More specifically, the bright color of a plant's fruit may act as a sunscreen or the plant might produce a substance that makes it taste horrible to bugs as a method of protection. Basically phytonutrients fight for a plant's health. When we include plants, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, in our diets, the phytonutrients fight for our health too!

Antioxidants

There are numerous types of phytonutrients, many of which are also antioxidants. Antioxidants are like crime fighters in your body. They stop free radicals, or unstable molecules that steal from healthy cells in our body to cause damaging changes. When a free radical comes in contact with a healthy cell it turns it into another free radical, and the chain of free radical formation just keeps going and going... and going. Antioxidants stop this damaging chain of free radical formation, therefore protecting our cells.

Anthocyanins and Quercitin

Each plant has many different types of phytonutrients. Black Currants specifically contain large amounts of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants associated with anti-inflammatory benefits. Anthocyanins are also responsible for the deep purple color of Black Currants.

Another powerful phytonutrient in Black Currants is quercitin, which is being studied for its potential anti-cancer actions. To read more about the potential of antioxidants and phytonutrients to prevent certain chronic diseases, click here.

What are ORAC and TEAC?

You may see the terms ORAC or TEAC used in reference to how much antioxidant activity a food has. The Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity, or ORAC, scores and the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity, or TEAC, scores both measure how well the antioxidants in a food neutralize free radicals.

How do the antioxidants in Black Currants compare to other fruits?

The darker the color, the richer the fruit is in anthocyanins.  Researchers have compared the antioxidant activity of different berries using a method called TEAC, which measures the antioxidant capacity of the fruit in the body.  Based on tests conducted by Miller and Rice-Evans, Black Currants scored almost two times higher in antioxidant capacity than other types of fruit.