ABSTRACT
It is widely accepted that fruits and vegetables can have a strong benecial impact on human health. This is based in part on overwhelming ndings from epidemiological and clinical studies that have shown a strong relationship between high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a lower incidence of degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, inammation, arthritis, immune system decline, brain dysfunction, and cataracts (Kaur and Kapoor 2001; Scalbert and Williamson 2000). The positive inuence of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is attributed to the naturally occurring antioxidants in them, including vitamin C, vitamin E, phenolic compounds, and carotenoids. These phytochemicals have antioxidant activities which help protect cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals (Kris-Etherton et al. 2002).
