wellness
Eating The
Rainbow
By Amber Arevalos
Nothing is more naturally beautiful than a rainbow. Believe it or not, there are foods of every color in the rainbow. From vibrant orange to mellow yellow, you can find every shade through our food. Most things that are colorful represent happiness, hope and health. Having an array of colors on your plate can benefit your health. Different colors provide a unique variety of health benefits. It is essential to see as many colors on your plate as possible. The colors that enrich our food are made by antioxidants found in abundance in many bright-colored fruits and vegetables. These foods tend to be less in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Winmedical.org says colorful fruits and vegetables help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, vision loss, hypertension and other diseases. When your plate is colorful, your body intakes more vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that assist in all the bodily functions we perform daily. Below is a list of famous rainbow-colored foods and what the color provides. RED: PEPPERS, APPLES, CRANBERRIES, CHERRIES & TOMATOES. These red foods provide lycopene and anthocyanins. They may contribute to assisting the body in fighting off heart disease, reduce risk of stroke and improve vision. ORANGE: ORANGES, PEPPERS, MELONS, SWEET POTATOE & CARROTS. Orange foods have been associated with burning belly fat, improving eyesight and boosting immunity. They get their color from the antioxidant beta-carotene. YELLOW: CORN, BANANAS, SQUASH, PUMPKIN & GOLDEN BEETS. Like orange foods, the yellow color comes from carotenoids and anthocyanins. These foods have been linked to improving mood, bone health and collagen production. GREEN: APPLES, GREEN BEANS, PEAS, PEARS, GRAPES, CUCUMBER & AVOCADO. Green foods have always been associated with health and get their color from the phytochemicals found richly in each. These phytochemicals are chlorophyll, folate, flavonoids, isoflavones and nitrates. Green foods help reduce heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity. BLUE & PURPLE: BLUEBERRIES, EGGPLANT, PLUMS, GRAPES, ELDERBERRIES & PURPLE CAULIFLOWER. The primary antioxidant found in blue and purple foods is anthocyanin. These rich-colored foods have been linked to brain health, fight heart disease and even reduce inflammation. If you have ever wondered what the best diet is, it is rich in natural, NOT artificial color. The more colors we take in daily ensures we are providing beneficial nutrition to our body. If you are ever in doubt with the many diets out there, turn to eating the rainbow!
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