Vegetables are amazing foods, not only are they jam packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, but they are also rich in a particular type of nutrient called ‘phytochemicals’ which are specific to plant foods. These fascinating protective plant compounds have a health enhancing effect and help to protect us against a number of diseases such as heart disease and cancer just like they help to protect the plant from disease. Hundreds of different phytochemicals have been discovered in plant foods and are responsible for giving plants their colour, flavour and smell.

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