Americans Need More Phytonutrients

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.Eight in 10 Americans are missing out on the health benefits of a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, resulting in a phytonutrient gap with potential health consequences, according to Americas Phytonutrient Report.

Many phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants that can help fight the damage caused to our bodies cells over time that can lead to premature aging and disease, said Stephen Fortmann, MD, director of the Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University. The fact that Americans are falling short in phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables measured in the report is concerning.

Americas Phytonutrient Report was conducted by Exponent* for NUTRILITE®, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and USDA data which captures what Americans eat daily.

The report examined fruit and vegetable consumption in five color categoriesgreen, red, white, blue/purple and yellow/orange. The health benefits of phytonutrients are believed to come from the compounds that give these foods their vibrant reds, yellows, greens and other rich colors. Americans have a phytonutrient gap in every color category.

Findings showed the biggest phytonutrient gap was found in the blue/purple fruit and vegetable category where 88 percent of Americans fall short; Americans are doing a little better on getting phytonutrients found in green fruits and vegetables (69 percent fall short); and, 78 percent of Americans are falling short in the red, 86 percent in white and 79 percent in orange/yellow.