What does eat right with color mean? The color of a fruit or vegetable determines how healthy and nutritious it is. The more variety of colors you eat, the more nutrition you are getting. A diet rich in natural plant pigments increases the body’s protection against disease because the darker the color, the more antioxidants are present.
What are antioxidants? The cells in our body are constantly being challenged by substances called free radicals. To prevent free radical damage the body uses antioxidants as a defense system. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, terminate the damage they cause to the body’s cells, and have the amazing ability to repair previous damage to cells.
They also turn the free radicals into waste by-products, resulting in their elimination from the body. Because antioxidants prevent cellular damage, considered to be the conduit for cancer, aging, and other diseases and conditions, they are vital to our body’s good health.
BLUE & PURPLE FOODS
These foods contain antioxidants that promote anti-aging benefits, help boost memory, improve urinary tract health, reduce risk for both high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol, help maintain a healthy weight, and reduce cancer risks. Good choices are berries, especially blueberries, plums, raisins, eggplant, purple cabbage, and purple grapes.
GREEN FOODS
Green foods provide your body with antioxidants that strengthen the immune system, help promote healthy vision, help keep bones and teeth strong, and reduce cancer risks. Good choices are broccoli, spinach, limes, cabbage, avocado, kale, celery, green peppers, leafy greens, green grapes, zucchini, kiwi, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and green beans.
ORANGE & YELLOW FOODS
Orange and yellow foods contain beta carotene, a rich source of vitamin A, and are high in vitamin C. They boost the body’s immune system, protect the skin from sunlight damage and reduce the risk for certain types of cancers. Good choices are carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, orange peppers, peaches, oranges, tangerines, lemon, pineapple, mangos, and apricots.
RED FOODS
Red foods boost the body’s immune system, maintain urinary tract health, fight heart disease, decrease the risk for stroke and macular degeneration, and reduce cancer risks. Good choices are strawberries, cherries, cranberries, tomatoes, raspberries, watermelon, pink grapefruit, red onions, red peppers, radishes, kidney beans, red beans, and beets.
WHITE, TAN & BROWN FOODS
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