Hi All! May I know what is the difference between antioxidant and phytochemical? Thanks...

see Rachel
phytochemicals are any chemical or nutrient derived from a plant source, somtimes they usually used to refer to compounds found in plants that are not required for normal functioning of the body but that nonetheless have a beneficial effect on health or an active role in the amelioration of disease.

it includes the antioxidants (the plant antioxidants) on it
phytochemicals includes also flavonoids , capsaicinoids , phytosterols , ...... etc

while generally antioxidants are chemicals that reduce the rate of oxidation reactions.
exmples,
# Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
# Tocopherol-derived compounds
# BHA, BHT, EDTA
# Tert-Butylhydroquinone
# Citric acid
# Acetic acid - found in vinegar; used for pickling
# Pectin
# Rosmarinic acid

i hope this give you just the idea you want to know , if you want to ask any ask you may found me knew it

thanks alot

One other point, a phytochemical can be an antioxidant but not all antioxdiants are phytochemicals! How was that?

That is correct Ian!

yes this is true as Ian and Gloria emphasis
but let me explain briefly how is this
its phytochemicals when its derived from Plant sources
like Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Tocopherol-derived compounds,Citric acid .
and its not if its synthesized out of plant like by chemical reactions in factories or others than plants
like BHA, BHT, EDTA

i hope you got what i want to say the language may did not help me to express what i want , but i think you
got what i want to explain
and thanks

Hi, I recently read an article and felt that “The amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live.” antioxidants are the nutritional equivalent of man's best friend - they are loyal protectors and nurturers of our cells, repelling disease, and promoting good health. Antioxidants can come from healthy eating or in the form of supplements, and they include a family of naturally formed components like vitamin A, beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin E, and more. They are believed to protect cells from free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules thought to damage cells that result in cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, and they may be the underlying reason why we age. view article about antioxidants…

Hi Cameron,
I think you have to be very careful here before you get to excited about some of these articles. I was very surprised when the results of the "Eating Fruit and Vegetables Offer No Protection Against Cancer Study" was published. If antioxidants offered protection against cancer it should have tilted the scales in that direction, providing the participants were eating the correct amount of fruit and vegetables, but it didn't, in fact it suggested there no benefit to be gained in eating fruit and vegetables for protection. Look for peer reviewed abstracts as a lot of non peer reviewed articles engage in "cherry picking", that is they only quote supporting research and don't offer any balance. In order to give a degree of balance I have included a negative review for antioxidants.

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/7914

There are a lot more negative reviews out there if you look for them.