Edit Your Nutrients With Color

In my last newsletter we began to talk about the color of our foods. Have you noticed the colors on your plate more frequently since I brought up the subject?

Perhaps you have been adding more colors to your meals. If so, I’m delighted, and would love to hear what you have been eating and whether you can tell any difference in your energy level or taste.

We explored the benefits of green, blue and purple fruits and vegetables, which provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals, supporting your eye health, detoxification, immunity, reduced inflammation and skin health.

Would you be interested in some additional colors?

Besides green, another color that stands out in the produce department is red. Apples, cherries, strawberries and raspberries in the fruit department, and tomatoes, red peppers, chiles, and radishes are found among the vegetables. The lycopene, quercetin, anothcyanin and Vitamin C these provide promote heart health and reduce inflammation, reducing your risk of stroke and macular degeneration. Those are building blocks I would want to provide for my body.

Closely related to the red foods are the orange and yellow ones. I’m sure your first thoughts in this category were the familiar orange and banana, but there are far more options. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, orange and yellow peppers, lemons, and spaghetti squash are other candidates that come to mind.

Did you think corn would be in the yellow category? Many consider it a vegetable but – surprise! – it is actually a grain and a prominent source of starch. That’s doesn’t eliminate it as an option, but I would still recommend you focus on other vegetables to increase your nutrient value.

And what benefit would you gain from eating orange and yellow produce? These would include alpha- and beta-carotene, potassium, and Vitamins A and C. You’ve no doubt heard from childhood that beta-carotene supports eye and skin health, and these fruits and vegetables also provide electrolytes and anti-inflammatory compounds. Winning additions to improve your health!

What new colors are you planning to add to your next meal? Satisfy your senses and your cells by boosting the color scheme on your plate. I’d love to hear what you eat as you pursue wellness for you, for life – because health is wealth.