Phytochemicals In Plant-Based Foods Could Help Battle Obesity, Disease

Or they could kill you.

"Eating more plant-based foods, which are rich in substances called phytochemicals, seems to prevent oxidative stress in the body, a process associated with obesity and the onset of disease, according to findings published online in advance of the print edition of the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics...

Because many phytochemicals have antioxidant properties, they can help combat free radicals, Vincent said. Phytochemicals include substances such as allin from garlic, lycopene from tomatoes, isoflavones from soy, beta carotene from orange squashes and anythocyanins from red wine, among others."

Here is more info on antioxidants.

Here, too.

And there is more to dislike about the study:

"The researchers studied a group of 54 young adults, analyzing their dietary patterns over a three-day period, repeating the same measurement eight weeks later. The participants were broken into two groups: normal weight and overweight-obese.

Although the adults in the two groups consumed about the same amount of calories, overweight-obese adults consumed fewer plant-based foods and subsequently fewer protective trace minerals and phytochemicals and more saturated fats. They also had higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation than their normal-weight peers, Vincent said. These processes are related to the onset of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and joint disease, she added."

Apparently, since the article is from the research institution and authored by it, the researchers did not control for any effects that come from being overweight/obese. Otherwise, they would have mentioned it.

Even if "oxidative stress" matters, this effort would not demonstrate it.

Bad research.

Just lose the weight. And the research noise.