Health Tip

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What color are your fruits and vegetables?

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By Sharon C. Groves

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As we all know, fruits and vegetables all contain nutrients that the body needs to grow and be protected from diseases. But it definitely pays to know what the colors of your fruits and vegetables mean.

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RED: contains lycopene, ellagic acid, quercetin, and hesperidin, Vitamin A and C. Some of these include watermelons, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, red peppers, and red onions. Reds slow down aging and protect against Alzheimers. Reds also help fight heart diseases, many types of cancer, and guard against diabetes.

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ORANGE & YELLOW: Contains flavo-noids, lycopene, potassium, Vitamin C, and beta-carotene.

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These are oranges, grapefruit, lemons, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and corn. Orange and yellow lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, fight harmful free radicals, keep joints healthy and reduces chances of prostate problems.
GREEN: Contains fiber, lutein, calcium, folate, Vitamin C, beta-carotene. Green fruits and vegetables include green apples, artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, honeydew, and green pears. Greens keep digestive tract healthy, keep bones and teeth strong, reduces risks of some cancers, maintains good eyesight, and improves the immune system.

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WHITE: Contains beta-glutens, EGCG, and lignans.

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Examples are garlic, ginger, mushrooms, onions, white corn, turnips, and white peaches. White peaches help protect you from strokes and reduce risk of certain types of cancers like colon, breast, and prostate. They also help balance hormone levels, lower blood pressure, and protects against heart diseases.

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PURPLE & BLUE: Contain lutein, Vitamin C, flavonoids. These include eggplant, cabbage, endive, plums, and blueberries. The blues and purples are good for the immune system, keeps eyes healthy (especially the retina), keeps the gastrointestinal tract healthy, and help reduce body inflammations There are wonderful health benefits with a fruit and vegetable-rich diet. They lower risk of death from any cause, especially from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The death risks for those who take 5 portions or more of fruits and vegetables per day are reduced by 33%. They are also a great source or fiber. Fiber helps the digestive system process the food we eat. Vegetables are naturally low in fat and perfect for when you’d like to maintain a healthy and fit body.

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We all probably remember our mothers telling us to “eat all your vegetables” and “eat some fruit”. She sure was smart wasn’t she?