This commercial site summarizes the different categories of phytochemicals and the role they play in health. The diets of many children with feeding and developmental disabilities do not include an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables. Those that are eaten are either highly processed or are picked before they are ripe. The use of a dehydrated fruit and vegetable supplement in children's diets is discussed. Some drugs influence the absorption of nutrients from food and create additional nutritional needs.
Foods can influence the way in which drugs are absorbed by the body.
This paper discusses many of these food and drug interactions for specific types of medication. A chart is provided of medications that affect taste or appetite. Richardson discusses the dietary importance of DHA and AA, two fatty acids that are usually converted from essential fatty acids in the diet. These play a major structural role in the development of the brain and eye. Many individuals have deficiencies of these fatty acids because their body is inefficient in its ability to make this dietary conversion.