Colorful Foods - For your good Health
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Looking for a way to improve your health? Colorful plant-based foods is a way to achieve this. For better weight control and a healthier life style, these foods are the way to go. They are not just visually appealing, they have their own unique health and anti-aging properties contained in their phytonutrients. These are the chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their color, taste, scent, and its antioxidant & disease fighting qualities.
One of the greatest concerns associated with aging is inflammation caused by disease. This is recognized by dermatologists as a major cause of age related skin deterioration. In addition, some clinical studies demonstrate that consumption of phytonutrients have shown promise in enhancing the immuine system, maintaining a youthful appearance, therefore preventing some cancers.
Basically, fruits and vegetables are divided into whites, greens, blues, reds, yellow, and orange. The type of health benefits you get from the various shades of fruits and vegetables will be different.
Whites and Greens
White fruits and vegetables contain nutrients such as beta-glucans, EGCG, SDG, and lignans. These provide immune enhancing benefits, and are thought to reduce the risk of prostrate, colon and breast cancer. One other benefit is they can help to re-balance hormone levels, thus reducing the risk of hormone related cancers.
Green Fruits and Vegetables contain lutein, chlorophyll, zeaxanthin, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and beta-carotene. They are believed to help reduce blood pressure, lower the risk of cancer, and improve cholesterol levels. In addition, greens are thought to help protect against cell-damaging free-radicals.
Blues and Reds
Blue Fruits and Vegetables are known for reducing the risk of blood clots, therefore reducing the risk of strokes. They also enhance circulation. Some food know to contain this are Black Berries, Plums, Eggplant and dark colored grapes.
Red Fruits and Vegetables contain lycopene. Their benefits include reduced risk of various cancers, and reduced chance of heart disease. In addition, this color is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with arthritis symptoms. These benefits can be found in grapefruit, cherries, red peppers, watermelon, and tomatoes.
Yellow and Orange
Yellow and Orange produce are known for containing zeaxanthin, Beta-carotene, flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C. They are also known for reducing the risk of some cancers. Yellow and Orange produce are also known for helping to slow diabetic related vision loss. In addition, Yellows and Orange's help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Foods to look for include cantaloupe, mangoes, carrots, and apricots.
Conclusion
A diet rich in antioxidants is the key to healthy living; no one is going to take care of your health better than you. Next time you visit a grocery store, try exchanging a bag of chips for fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember, the more colorful your meal or snacks are the better.
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A wonderful hub! I just bookmarked it for future reference. Thanks Coolmon!
Great nutritional tips.
fantastic hub, the colorful food hub is a great place to learn the power of veggies and fruit, the color says a lot. Thanks and Peace :)
@dahoglund - Thanks for the feedback; I am glad you found the information useful.
@Ultimate Hubber - Thanks for the kind words, and I am glad you found my article useful.
@Sandyspider - Thank you for your feedback, and as always it is nice to hear from you.
@katiem2 - I am glad you liked it, and thank you for taking the time to read my article.
excellent, I dont know why I wasnt able to read this before, I rated this up because I love health hubs and because I want to greet you Happy Mothers Day, it is never too late cool, I know you're a great mom, and you are one of the hubber which I really look up to here, Maita
This was absolutely great information. I liked all color from those foods. I believe all those useful for our health. Good work, thumbs up for you. I rate this hub. thank you very much!
@prettydarkhorse - Thank you for the kind words, and the mother's day greeting. I hope you had a great mothers day too :)
@prasetio30 - Thank you for your comments, and it is nice to hear from you again :)
Just like your hub and have always read the that your plate should always be very colorful. Your hub tells me the reasons why. Great Job.
Sage
You're right! Great advice and information. Let's put some color in our diet. Thank you Ma'am!
@Sage Williams - I am glad you like this hub. As always, it is nice to hear from you.
@Micky Dee - Thanks for the feedback :)
Thanks coolmon, for another well written hub. People need to be reminded more to stay away from processed foods, and take in more natural foods. Thank you very much.
@lightning john - Thanks for your kind words, and as always it is nice to hear from you.
Great nutritional tips. I liked the way you organized the food into colors. Good hub.
@Pamela99 - Thanks for the feedback, and I am glad you enjoyed reading my article :)
...i'll take note of this and include healthy food in my diet!^.^..thank you very much, very usefu! ^.^
@pinkhawk - I am glad you found this information useful, and thanks for taking the time to post comments.
Thank you for this fascinating information that I'll consider every time I sit before my diet plate. A diabetic diet plate doesn't need to look grey and unappetizing, does it? Colors tantalize the palate!
@Lita C. Malicdem - Yes you are correct a diabetic plate can be colorful. I am glad you enjoyed reading my article :)
Excellent article Coolmon2009, I had no idea colour played such a big role in vegetables and fruit!
@st lucia for sale - Thanks for the kind words, yes colorful foods are important to your health and well being.
Good work ,nice tips for nutrition ,i learned lot for healthy food and for healthy life .Thanks
@Dr irum - Thanks for taking the time to reply to my article. I am glad you enjoyed reading it :)
Thanks for the linkages with color-food-nutrition. Will be a fun way for getting the kids to eat the good foods also.
@billyaustindillon - You have a valid point. If candy companies can make their products attractive using color why not use the same strategy to get them to eat fruits and vegetables? Nice to hear from you again :)
Good hub. i love fruit is and vegetables too because I know that they are healthy food.
@masmasika - I am glad you enjoyed reading my article, thank you.
A beautifully colored hub and tremendously important information! You did a lot of work, so thanks for sharing it all. I never thought of the importance of the white-beta glucan foods. I will bookmark your page!
@frogyfish - Yes they all are important. Thanks for reading my article and for leaving your feedback too.
I think I'll make a cup of green tea. I think when the talk started about having a colorful plate, it helped lots of people, including me. Red peppers are one of my favorites. Thanks for this nutritional information. Voted-up/rated.
@Support Med - Glad you liked my article, the more color the better :)
Good hub, thanks.
@Tiffany Latte - I am glad you like it, thanks for stopping by.
im doing a research paper for school and this will be very helpful thankyou so much(:
@hmrhodes - I am glad you found this article useful. Thanks for your comments.
Hi there,
Really A diet rich in antioxidants is the key to healthy living.
Thanks
Maria
@lifecell - Thanks for your feedback on my article.
My husband and I love starting out our day with colorful fruits and yogurt. Right now it is blueberries, strawberries and peaches. We also love our veggies. This hub is a reminder to all who read it of the beneficial aspects of working more of these colorful foods into our diets on a daily basis. Well done!
@Peggy W - Thanks for your feedback on this article :)
Additional Information
- WebMD.com - Information on phytonutrients
- Fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov - Government information on nutrition
- Simplyantiaging.com - Aging and nutrition related information
dahoglund Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Good tips on nutrition.