Phytochemicals are a type of antioxidant compound that naturally occurs in the skin of plant foods. Phytochemicals are plant chemicals. They are nature's way of protecting the plant from disease, and they affect humans in a variety of ways including neutralizing free radicals and providing nutritional and anti-inflammatory benefits to support healing of chronic muscle and joint pain problems.

So far, more than 25,000 different phytochemicals have been discovered in fruits and vegetables. Besides being strong antioxidants that neutralize destructive free radicals, some phytochemicals have tremendous anticancer activities, helping the body rid itself of potent carcinogens. Others protect against cardiovascular disease by helping reduce the formation of cholesterol, lower blood pressure, decrease blood cholesterol levels, reduce blood clot formation, open blood vessels and decrease damage to blood vessel walls. The list of significant beneficial activities of phytochemicals includes anti-inflammatory, anti-yeast, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal as well as immune-enhancing benefits.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, there are two key concepts to understand about recommending phytochemicals. First, different plant foods contain different phytochemicals, each of which seems to act in slightly different ways on parts of the cell. Thus, to get the widest array of antioxidant benefits, eating a variety of plant foods is important.

Second, phytochemicals seem to work best in combination with one another. So even though you can get some particular phytochemical that you hear about as beneficial in an isolated supplement form, current research suggests that it will not function the same way when taken in isolation as it does when consumed with a host of other phytochemicals.

Which foods are the most efficient phytochemical factories? Vegetables and fruits stand out as being particularly important, although legumes (beans), grains, nuts and seeds are also excellent sources. Choosing a wide variety of colorful, whole plant foods is your key to a phytochemical-rich diet.

The phytochemical "superstars," if you will, are dark-green vegetables such as broccoli and kale, brightly colored fruits like blueberries and strawberries plus foods such as tomatoes, garlic, citrus fruits, green tea and flaxseeds.

Many people wonder from a convenience point of view if they can just pop a pill to get their phytochemicals; for instance, taking a multi-vitamin that contains lutein. At this time, we just do not know enough about the complicated interactions of the full range of nutrients in whole foods to be confident about isolating certain ones as pills.

As a quick and convenient alternative to eating the whole food, you might consider supplementing patients once a day with a high-quality whole-food drink mix that contains a variety of fruits, vegetables and other superfoods. Typically with this type of whole-food nutritional powdered supplement, one-scoop in water will provide the antioxidant power of 15 or more servings of fruits and vegetables. Be sure to only recommend a powdered fruit-and-vegetable drink mix that is sweetened with a natural product like stevia, because most on the market use synthetic sweeteners that raise blood sugar or use various chemical or technological modifications that alter the natural state of the fruits and vegetables.

From a practical point of view, recommend a lifestyle change to patients that teaches them to increase the phytochemical content of their diet by increasing the quantity, color and variety of whole plant foods they eat each day. Aim for at least seven to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Consider suggesting they take the phytonutrient-dense fruit-and-vegetable powder every morning so they can be assured of getting their daily dose of antioxidant and phytochemical protection.

Today, almost every patient is aware of individual antioxidant supplements such as vitamin A, C and E, as well as other lesser-known phytochemicals. Even though many of your patients take antioxidants, many do not realize exactly why they are taking them. Antioxidant supplementation is helpful in neutralizing free radicals in myofascial tissues, thereby reducing the presence of systemic inflammation.

By offering a simple breath test to your patients and knowing each patient's aldehyde wellness score, and recommending more phytonutrients from whole food and a high-quality fruit-and-vegetable supplement, you can help to manage your patients' oxidative stress. By doing this, you can help your patients reduce chronic inflammation.

The crucial fact to remember when it comes to chronic muscle and joint pain is this: It develops primarily from improperly managed inflammation and oxidative stress in tissues. In chronic muscle and joint disorders, the presence of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the myofascial tissues are inseparable; you cannot have one without the other. Therefore, to correctly heal chronic muscle and joint problems, you should measure a patient's level of oxidative stress (aldehyde score) and offer antioxidants and wellness care that manages the metabolic factors of chronic inflammation and free-radical damage.

Fortunately, there are new, innovative, non-invasive ways to help. Breath testing, lifestyle recommendations and antioxidant supplementation  can assist you in naturally managing these metabolic factors in your patients with chronic pain.

Dr. Donald L. Hayes, DC is a clinician, educator and author of several books, including Lifestyle Wellness and, along with Michael E. Gerber, The E-Myth Nutritionist: Why Most Healthcare Practices Don't Work and What to Do About It. He is founder and president of the Greens First line of nutritional products and the Lifestyle Wellness Total Health Improvement Program. He can be reached at 866-410-1818 or through www.greensfirst.com.