Make Eating Your Fruits and Vegetables a "Coloful" Experience

George Carlin once remarked that there was no blue food. Well, what about blueberries? Blueberries aren't really blue, they are purple. George then went on to say that somebody must be hoarding all the blue food for themselves. That was a pretty funny and somewhat profound observation, but the color of the fruits and vegetables that you eat are important nutrition wise.

According to the Healthy Planet Magazine:

" March is also a time to celebrate eating well. National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and social marketing campaign created by the American Dietetic Association that is celebrated each March. This year's National Nutrition Month focus is "Eat Right with Color."

This, of course, relates to the color of the food and its nutritional value. Most citrus fruits are either yellow or orange and most contain high amounts of vitamin C. You should eat a wide variety of different colors to get the full benefit of eating fruits and vegetables and we all know that's the best way towards a healthy diet.

But can't you just look at the nutrition information that is posted over the bins? Sure, by all means go ahead. They will tell you about SOME of the vitamins and minerals that the produce contains, but what about the all-important phytochemicals?

These are the trace elements that contain antioxidants and important ant-aging compounds. These can also help your health in a number of different ways by preventing such conditions as diabetes, stroke, cataracts, and heart disease.

Fruits with a reddish color contain lycopene which may protect against certain cancers. Watermelon and tomatoes are a good source of these. Beta-carotene is found in yellow squash and carrots. These can also help prevent certain cancers, boost your immune system, and help your eyesight.

Zeaxanthin and Lutein are found in several yellowish and green foods and they can help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. These can be found in egg yolks, broccoli, spinach, and oranges.

Purplish foods such as blueberries and eggplant have anthocyanins in them. These are very powerful antioxidants that can help keep the cells in your body healthy and prevent cancer.

White foods like cauliflower and garlic contain allicins, which can lower blood pressure and cut cholesterol.

So try to make your plate a colorful palate of these amazing foods. Be an artist in the kitchen and use as many colors as you can. It can go a long way towards keeping you and your family healthy.

Source: http://www.thehealthyplanet.com/mar2011_march.htm