Veggies: Taste the Rainbow

Posted May 10, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Donnell Peavy

Section: His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health, His Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Diets

We all know that fruits and vegetables are essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. We also know the break down of fruits and veggies that we should have at each meal. Something that everyone may not know, however, is that veggies of the like color tend to share various nutrients. By knowing which color groups contain which nutrients, you can further ensure that you are consuming a diet that is as balanced as possible.

Red Fruits and veggies with a reddish color contain lycopene, quercetin and other nutrients which have been tied to lowering of blood pressure, lowering of cholesterol, reduced risk of prostate cancer and reduced tumor growth. Commonly eaten fruits in this category include strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers and watermelon.

Yellow Yellow fruits and vegetables contain beta carotene, flavonoids, potassium and vitamin C. The nutrients in these foods fight harmful free radicals, promote collagen formation and help build strong bones. Vitamin C is necessary for the growth and repair of various body tissues. Potassium has been attributed to reducing lactic acid build up in the muscles. Orange vegetables and fruits have the same properties as yellow ones. Carrots, yellow squash and bananas are included in this group.

Green Green fruits and vegetables contain chlorophyll, calcium, folate, fiber and zeaxanthin among other things. Remember when your grand mother told you to eat your veggies because they would keep you “regular”? These are the veggies she was referring to. Green veggies help keep the digestive tract in proper working order. They have also been linked to boosting immune system activity. Some examples are greens, spinach and broccoli. 

Blue Fruits and vegetables with either a blue or purple hue are rich in antioxidants. They aid in warding off inflammation, cancer and high cholesterol. This variety also improves mineral absorption. Blueberries, blackberries, grapes and pomegranates fall into this classification.

White These are the immune system boosters. They combat several different types of cancer – colon, breast and prostate – they lower the risk of hormone related cancers. Foods in this category include cauliflower, garlic, ginger and onions.

The next time you are at the grocery store, remember this article and remember the Skittles slogan – taste the rainbow!

Research sources and for more information: [disabled world]