ABSTRACT
Vegetables are considered a significant part of all major dietary guidance systems. Their many chemical elements and compounds are known to affect thousands of physiological functions and to promote health (1). This chapter provides an overview of nutrients and non-nutrient phytochemicals commonly found in vegetables, along with a description of the basic nutrient profile for vegetables in general. Factors affecting nutrient variations, both naturally occurring and due to processing, are summarized. Lastly this chapter reviews many of the purported health benefits derived from various vegetable phytochemicals.
