Eat a Rainbow !
Posted by Whole Wellness on Nov 26th 2022
There is nothing more important than good health. It allows us to do our jobs, spend time with friends and watch our children grow and prosper. The health of our citizens is the foundation of our prosperity. Healthy adults are more productive workers. Healthy children are better students. Healthy families can make longer-lasting positive contributions to their communities.
We know there’s more to good health than just going to the doctor when you get sick. Good health starts with the steps we take every day to avoid getting sick in the first place. These steps include a healthy diet, hydrating with good water, getting enough exercise, detoxifying the body, using relaxation techniques, and getting enough good sleep.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance way to optimize your diet, it doesn’t get any easier than this…Go for colorful produce!
Eating a full rainbow of foods regularly helps give your body the nutrients it needs. In addition to fiber, vitamins and minerals, natural vibrant colored foods contain what are known as phytonutrients. Research suggests that these super plant-based nutrients, play a role in boosting the immune system and help with preventing chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Eat a Rainbow!
Eating the full rainbow will help give your body what it needs to be healthy. Try to incorporate at least one serving of each color into your daily routine.
When you add deep reds or
bright pinks to your daily diet, you are adding a powerful antioxidant
called lycopene. Lycopene is found in tomatoes, red and pink grapefruit,
watermelon, papaya, and guava. Diets rich in lycopene are being studied for
their ability to fight heart disease and some cancers.
Green vegetables are rich in the phytochemicals that keep you healthy.
For example, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that are found in spinach,
collards, kale, and broccoli have antioxidant properties and are being studied
for their ability to protect your eyes by keeping your retina strong.
Orange color is a
must-have in your daily diet. Orange vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes,
mangos, carrots, and apricots, contain beta-carotene, a natural antioxidant
being studied for its role in enhancing the immune system.
Bright yellows have many of the same perks as the orange groups: high in
essential vitamins and carotenoids. Pineapple, for example, is rich with
Vitamin C, manganese and the natural enzyme, bromelain. Bromelain helps aid digestion.
Blues and purples not only add beautiful shades of tranquility and richness to your plate, but they also add health-enhancing flavonoids, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Blueberries are rich in Vitamin C, folic acid and potassium, and high in fiber.
White vegetables from the onion family, which include garlic, chives, scallions, leeks, and any variety of onion, contain the phytochemical allicin which may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and increase the body’s ability to fight infections.