Did you reach for at least one red or pink fruit or vegetable today? How about dark green, deep yellow, or orange? Purple or blue? For good health, the more color on your plate, the better.
Those colors come from thousands of phytonutrients, which independently or together promote health.
- Green: Lutein in broccoli, collards, green peas, and spinach may help reduce the chances of macular degeneration and cataracts. Indoles in some green veggies may help reduce prostate and breast cancer risk.
- Deep yellow/orange: Beta carotene in carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peaches, and mangoes may help slow aging, reduce the chances of cancer and heart disease, and give your immune system a boost.
- Purple/blue: Anthocyanins in blackberries, blueberries, eggplant, plums, and purple grapes may help reduce cancer risk and perhaps help prevent urinary tract infections.
- Red: In tomatoes, red cabbage, sweet cherries, strawberries, pink grapefruit, and watermelon, lycopene helps protect against prostate cancer. Many of these foods have anthocyanins, too.
- White: Allyl sulfides in garlic, leeks, and onions may help control cholesterol and blood pressure and help your body fight infection.
Reach for the “color-coded” benefits of fruits and vegetables today.
- Think five-a-day twice today: Eat at least five fruit and vegetable servings, and try to put ive colors in your meals and snacks, too.
- Eat the colorful peels, too, if they’re edible.
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