Phytonutrients

Fiber-rich vegetables deliver a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals alongside phytonutrients. The avocado pit is a concentrated source of beneficial plant compounds that would otherwise be discarded. High phytonutrient content in fibrous vegetables acts as antioxidants and cellular protectors with anti-cancer properties. The fiber and phytonutrient matrix of whole fruit substantially buffers the glycemic impact of its sugar content. Cruciferous vegetables provide the same phytonutrient benefits as the avocado pit without requiring its multi-step preparation. Phytonutrients achieve anti-cancer effects without the systemic toxicity that chemotherapy inflicts on healthy tissue. Phytonutrients such as caffeine, EGCG, berberine, and beta-glucans contribute to autophagic tone but are not powerful enough to substitute for fasting. Pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to fund studies demonstrating that affordable, widely available foods have cancer-protective effects. Certain plant-derived phytochemicals independently activate autophagy without inhibiting or breaking a fast. Fasting and phytochemical intake activate autophagy through two separate pathways, producing…