photo of a bucket of sweet potatoes

Concentrating on Carotenoids

A group of phytochemicals called carotenoids play a vital role in bone growth, reproduction, and healthy immune, detoxification, and inflammatory systems. They help your skin and mucous membranes repel bacteria and viruses more effectively. They are essential to healthy vision, and may slow declining retinal function in people with retinitis pigmentosa.  They are also important […]

Eliminating Toxins

Enzymes in your body use many of the minerals, vitamins, and other phytochemicals  to catalyze chemical reactions inside your cells. In interdependent series of such reactions, called metabolic pathways, particular chemicals are modified, either by breaking them down or synthesizing them into new molecules. Your body uses metabolic pathways to maintain homeostatic balance. Toxins are […]

Understanding ANDI Scores

The Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) score, developed by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, measures calcium; the carotenoids beta carotene, alpha carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene; fiber; folate; glucosinolates; iron; magnesium; niacin; selenium; vitamins B1 (thiamine),  B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12, C, and E; and zinc, plus the antioxidant capacity. Since the original calculation of the ANDI scores, […]


Discovering the Pharmacy at the Farmers Market: Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables

Phytochemicals are naturally occurring plant chemicals that protect plants against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and also provide plants with color, odor, and flavor. Because they can also influence the chemical processes inside your body in ways that benefit your health, they are often referred to as “phytonutrients” or even “nutraceuticals”; however, the term is generally […]