Book excerpt: As populations in many developed countries age and the burden of chronic disease increases, there is an increasing focus on preventative measures. This has resulted in a wealth of ongoing research on optimising the nutraceutical properties of key foods such as fruit and vegetables. Understanding and optimising the nutraceutical properties of fruit and vegetables reviews the key research on phytochemicals, their health benefits and their role in the prevention of serious diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The collection explores the nutraceutical properties of phytochemical compounds in fruit and vegetables, such as antioxidants, flavonoids and glucosinolates and how these can be optimised to enhance human health through improved nutrition.