Eat the rainbow … heard of this saying? 🌈🌈🌈
Yeah I know, you’re thinking the skittles ad jingle – “Eat the rainbow, taste the rainbow” – but no, that’s not what I’m referring to. Actually, it couldn’t be further from it.
‘Eat the rainbow’ is a simple way to remind you to eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables across a range of colours. 🍏🍎🍊🍐🍋🍌🍉🍇🍓🍒🍑🍍🍅🍆🌶🌽🍠
Fruit and vegetables fall into five different colour categories:.
- Red
- Purple/blue
- Orange
- Green
- White/brown
Each colour carries its own set of unique disease-fighting chemicals called phytochemicals. It is these phytochemicals that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colour and some of their healthy properties.
Phytochemicals are non-essential nutrients, meaning that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life; however, research indicates that they can protect humans against diseases and illness. Each phytochemical works differently and has some possible positive health benefits:
🍃 Antioxidant
➰ (Generally dark coloured F&V: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, corn, carrots, mangos, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, oranges, spinach, lettuce, celery, kale, beets, red peppers, potatoes, blueberries, strawberries, onions, leeks, garlic, grapes)
🍃 Enzyme stimulant
➰ (cabbage, citrus fruits, cherries)
🍃 Anti-bacterial / Immunity
➰ (garlic, onions)
🍃 Urinary tract infection
➰ (cranberries)
🍃 Cancer fighting
➰ (Orange coloured F&V: carrots, yams, cantaloupe, squash, and apricots)
🍃 Anti inflammatory and anti tumor:
➰ (Dark coloured fruits: grapes, blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries)
So next time you plan what you’re putting on your plate, or in my case this week, roasting some veggies, make sure you throw in a wide range of colours to eat the rainbow at every opportunity for your good health. 🌈
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