When it comes to choosing food, you mainly base your decision on the taste, the texture, the number of calories, and the presence or absence of animal products. The color of the food is usually the last thing on your mind, but it should actually head the list. The color of the food you eat has a great impact on your health. Instead of eating bland, colorless food, you should “eat the rainbow.” Multi-color foods, excluding candy, help you with weight loss, improve your complexion, provide your body with important nutrients, strengthen your immunity, and protect your heart. Eat colorful foods according to the season they are the ripest and the brightest. It will ensure that you get optimum nutrition. Here are the benefits of different-colored foods.
1. Green Foods
As children, you may have been told to always eat your green vegetables. As you reluctantly ate them, you might have felt that your parents were punishing you. In reality, they wanted to make sure you grew healthy and strong. Green vegetables are rich in vitamin A, vitamin K, calcium, and potassium. Vitamin A helps improves your vision, boosts your immunity, and ensures the proper functioning of your heart, kidneys, and lungs. Vitamin K ensures your blood clots efficiently when you are injured, and calcium and potassium maintain the health of your bones and teeth. Green vegetables also contain a compound called isothiocyanates, which protect you against cancer and cleanse your liver. There are plenty of green veggies to choose from. Just remember, the greener the better.
2. Red Foods
Red foods have the ability to make any dish look vibrant and appetizing. They are rich in a compound called lycopene which maintains the health of the prostate and the breasts. You can eat red foods raw if you want to, but cooking actually enhances the benefits of lycopene. Red foods include bell peppers, tomatoes, beets, cranberries, raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, and the best of all, red wine. Red wine contains antioxidants and flavonoids. It increases your good HDL cholesterol levels and lowers your bad LDL cholesterol levels, which is extremely beneficial for your heart health.
3. Orange And Yellow Foods
Orange- or yellow- colored foods are great for your complexion as they improve the elasticity of your skin. They contain vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium, which promote the health of your bones and teeth. Orange-colored foods, especially carrots, contain beta carotene, an important vitamin A, which maintains the health of your eyes and protects your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
4. Blue And Purple Foods
Blue- or purple-colored foods, especially blueberries, are considered great brain foods. They contain plenty of antioxidants that protect your brain from the harmful effects of free radicals. Eating blueberries on a regular basis will improve your ability to recall information and will boost your mood. Foods like eggplants, plums, blackberries, raisin, and figs contain anthocyanins, which protect your heart and promote longevity.
5. White Foods
In your search for brightly colored foods, you should not miss out on white foods. White is also an important color when it comes to your health. You should cut back on refined white foods such as sugar, white bread, and white pasta though. These foods do not contain much health benefits. You should choose natural white food, such as onions, mushrooms, bananas, and cauliflower. They contain magnesium, potassium, and dietary fiber, which are good for your bones and digestive system.
Life is too short to be wasted on boring food. Be creative and add a little color to your diet. Not only will your health benefit, but your eyes too will enjoy the splurge of colors on your plate.
