Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances found in most plants and have the potential to help combat heart diseases and fight cancer. When these compounds are found in plants they are called phytonutrients, which work in conjunction with nutrients found in the human body to combat disease. More than 900 different phytonutrients have been found in plant foods already; more are being discovered all the time and the whole area of nutrition and preventative health care is opening up. To date a large number of health giving benefits of these phytonutrients have been found; the anti-aging power of blueberries, the joint pain relieving properties of cherries and a whole host of powerful properties in pomegranates are just a few examples.

Containing less sugar than most fruits, the blueberry can also boast a number of other antioxidant properties too. For many people eating fruit does not come easily but drinking the juice is much more pleasant and an efficient way to get the goodness from the fruit into our systems; some of the many benefits have been improvements in the body's capacity to heal itself and benefits to circulation. These can also strengthen the body's ability to fight disease and infection due to their powerful antioxidants and healthy nutrients. Now the focus has shifted towards apples, which have an effect on the probability of coronary diseases.

Phytochemicals which can be an aid to our health are even contained in citrus fruits. Tart cherries can also provide anti-inflammatory benefits to people who suffer with conditions that cause pain in and around the joints. Of course we already now about the benefits of certain vitamins and minerals, which have been available for some time. Another antioxidant is resveratrol has many infection and viral prevention properties and is found in the likes of blackberries, mulberries but more highly in blueberries.

Many aging conditions benefit from the use of these compounds including, strokes, heart conditions and Alzheimer's. The humble tomato has also been under scrutiny with benefits it has guarding against certain cancers and heart problems. There are a number of ways you can use tomatoes to gain the greatest antioxidant benefit from them and these include pureed, juice concentrate and sauce. Watermelons, recognized as a refreshing summer fruit also contain some of the most powerful phytonutrients yet found. Now that this information has been made available, are you going to wait to have a serious condition before you start consuming more fruit?