Where can I find a list of the fruits and vegetables highest in phytonutrients?
Because foods contains thousands of phytonutrients – such as flavonoids and carotenoids – and many are measured in different units, it is difficult to combine them into a list of the top phytonutrient suppliers. It is much easier to find lists of one type of phytonutrient, such as the top carotenoids, which you can find online on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient database. You may see reports of individual studies listing the foods highest in antioxidants but at this point researchers have several systems for measuring antioxidant content, which leads to differences in the foods ranked as the top 10 or 20. However, note that a 2006 study in the Journal of Nutrition suggests it is the diversity of vegetables and fruits that is most important for good health rather than focusing on the foods ranked highest in antioxidants. And remember that whole grains, legumes (dried beans and peas), nuts and seeds all supply protective phytochemicals, too. *** The American In
