Why You Should Have The Colors Of The Rainbow In Your Produce Drawer
Taylor Ryan
Fitness Lifestyle Course Lesson 2 Sure you know that eating fruits and vegetables are good for you, but did you know that the color of the produce you are eating can shed some light on their healthy perks and benefits? Eating a colorful array of fruits and veggies in the best way to know that you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. I often suggest staying away from bland and lifeless produce such as potatoes because while they do contain some good for you things, they are not as healthy as you might expect. For example, potatoes are practically just starch (sugar).
Since we promote a clean eating diet plan, I am going to go into a bit more detail about the magical colors you allow your palate to grow and your life becomes more healthier! The meaning behind the colors:
- Red fruits and vegetables: includes red peppers, tomatoes, cranberries, and watermelon. These are filled with lycopene, which has been linked to preventing some cancers and eye problems. Additional benefits include: helping memory function and keeping your heart and urinary tract healthy.
- Orange and yellow: includes apricots, carrots, peaches and oranges. These are often high in alpha and beta carotene which are a group in highly powerful antioxidants. They protect you from the damage caused by free radicals. Like the red group, they also help with keeping your vision and heart healthy. They also assist in keeping your immune system strong and working.
- Green: includes spinach, romaine lettuce, and broccoli. This is a really powerful group and I eat from this group at least twice a day! Greens have been linked to have many disease preventing properties such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis. It is packed full of minerals, and vitamins (K, C, E, and B). This is one group to have in your fridge 24/7.
- Blues/Purples: includes blackberries, plums, purple cabbage, and eggplant. When it comes to taste, I have to say this is probably my favorite group. I love most vegetables and fruits but there is not one in the purple group that I don't love. But enough of my personal taste. When it come to these guys, they are great at lowering the risk of some cancers, assisting to keep the urinary tract clean, keeping your memory functioning well, and helping with healthy aging. This group is the fountain of youth. And who doesn't want to age well? I recommend throwing some blackberries or blueberries on top of cereal, in yogurt, or mixing in oatmeal each day to insure you are getting a great dose.
These are only a few examples of what color can do. If you typically only find that you have green vegetables on your plate, or that you only buy red delicious apples at the store each week, then it is time to change it up and add variety. Not only will you open your palate to new flavors but also the benefits your body will be getting are huge. You cannot go wrong with anything here. I do recommend that you keep in mind that this is about a clean eating diet. So if you are loading the broccoli with cheese or frying up the eggplant (it's a southern thing) than you are missing out on so much. Vegetables are packed with flavor and when prepared correctly you do not need any extra sauces or batter to make them taste great. For example, I love fried eggplant and okra, but when I started to eat clean I had to find other methods to prepare them. Now I use eggplant in place of lasagna noodles and use okra to make fresh succotash. The funny thing is, I never find myself craving fried veggies, it sounds as if you are defeating the purpose of having them on your plate. The great thing about this time of the year is the availability of fresh produce. Check out your city to see about a fresh farmers Market and plan your meals ahead of time. That way you know what you need and nothing is left to spoil. Another trick I have is to freeze fresh produce. It still taste fresh when thawed. This works with asparagus, blueberries, corn, strawberries, etc. I would not attempt to freeze tomatoes or anything like them for their delicacy. Now you have the reasons and the motivation to go out and try the colors of the rainbow. You are only hurting yourself if you limit your intake. For great veggie ideas, check out the recipes offered Sure breakfast is the most important meal of the day... but there is one more element to add to the morning routine. Get more information about exercises to lose weight and make sure you check out our fitness courses podcast where we talk about current fitness events and give you help to get great results.
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