Phytochemicals could provide health benefits as:

1 Substrate for biochemical reactions 2 Cofactors of enzymatic reactions 3 Inhibitors of enzymatic reactions 4 Absorbents that bind to & eliminate undesirable constituent in the intestine 5 Scavengers of reactive or toxic chemicals 6 Enhance the absorption and / or stability of essential nutrients 7 Selective growth factor for beneficial bacteria 8 Fermentation substrate for beneficial bacteria 9 Selective inhibitors of deleterious intestinal bacteria