As they say, eat a rainbow!
Almost all health and nutritional experts recommend tasting a rainbow, and by that, they do not mean that which comes in candy
bags or is found in pastry shops. Eating a rainbow suggests eating foods that come in a variety of colors as part of your daily meal to gain maximum nutrition. That means, just eating greens would not be enough.
You have to fill your plate with reds, purples, yellows, blues, and all the other colors in a rainbow besides just the greens. A rainbow of vegetables and fruits would help you benefit, as you will be taking in a healthy amount of fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Here are the colored foods that you must include in your diet and why you should do it.
Red Foods
Red foods like tomatoes, radishes, cranberries, apples, cherries, and beets will take you one step closer to having a healthy heart. Red-colored foods are high in antioxidant properties because of the presence of anthocyanins and lycopene.
They are also high in folate and vitamin C. All of these components in red foods contribute to keeping your heart free of harmful radicals and, therefore, healthy.
Yellow and Orange Foods
Orange and yellow foods get their color from a component called beta-carotene. Beta carotene is a highly concentrated source of antioxidants. Moreover, yellow and orange foods contain provitamin A.
The combination of provitamin A along with beta carotene helps in the reduction of the body's oxidative stress, thereby protecting it from cognitive disorders and heart diseases.
It also helps in boosting the immunity of the body and protects the nervous system. Yellow and orange foods include items like mangoes, carrots, peaches, pumpkins, apricots, and sweet potatoes.
Blue And Purple Foods
Foods that fall under the blue and purple family are not only appealing to the eyes but also high in anthocyanins. Their antioxidant properties protect the cells from damage and inflammation. Moreover, they help reduce the risks of heart disease and diabetes.
White Foods
White foods like bananas, mushrooms, turnips, and cauliflower are packed with nutrition and high in fiber content. This helps in digestion and reduces risks of heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, constipation, and diverticulitis. They also help maintain the BP of the body.
