ROYGBIV: Eating Your Colours
Published by: Samantha Porte
Edited by: Ravjyot Ughra
Written by: Tianna Mair
Designed by: Jiya Mehta
https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20476658/6-rainbow-foods-for-next-cookout/
Disclaimer: All research is the opinion of the writers and their sources, please ensure to do your own research, speak to your own health care providers, and know that not all information is suitable to all people.
Eating good, nutrient dense food is crucial to keeping your body healthy. One way to make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need is to eat your colours!
By eating fruits and vegetables of all different colours, you are guaranteeing that you get all of your daily nutrients.
Red!
Red peppers are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They are a source of vitamin A and C, with vitamin C boosting your immune system. Red peppers are anti-inflammatory, reducing any inflammation and fighting pain. Beta-carotene in the peppers also allows for improved eye health.
Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene. Lycopene helps protect your cells from damage. This means that tomatoes are an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules in the body. Antioxidants may help fight against lung, stomach, or prostate cancer. It also may prevent disease in the pancreas, colon, throat, mouth, breast, and cervix as well. Tomatoes can help lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, improve eyesight, and help with gut and UTI health.
Orange!
Oranges are loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C protects your cells from damage, promotes collagen production, makes it easier for the body to absorb iron, and boosts the immune system. Along with the high amounts of vitamin C, oranges are high in fiber, calcium, and citric acid (which helps prevent kidney stones). Oranges are a great way of getting in many essential nutrients.
Carrots are a versatile vegetable that is loaded with amazing nutrients. Carrots are high in antioxidants and rich in beta-carotene, which your body can turn into vitamin A. Carrots can lower your risk of cancer and boost heart health by regulating blood pressure. The vitamin C in carrots can boost your immune system. Carrots are also rich in Vitamin K and calcium, which promotes strong bones.
Yellow!
Bananas are a person’s best friend. My personal favourite when I know I’m low on nutrients, bananas are rich in potassium, fiber, probiotics, vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin A. With all of these nutrients bananas may lower your risk of stroke, they keep your bones healthy as you age, help muscles work better, and can even help prevent kidney stones. Bananas keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check, along with easing inflammation. The probiotics in bananas are good for gut health and can even ease lactose intolerance! The vitamins can boost metabolism, boost the immune system, protect against cancer, and ease cold and flu symptoms.
Pineapple is a wonderful fruit if it’s in season and it is loaded with great vitamins and minerals. Pineapple is high in vitamin C, manganese, and bromelain. By now we know all about the wonders of vitamin C, but what about manganese and bromelain? Manganese plays an essential role in metabolizing food, controlling blood clots, and keeping bones healthy! Bromelain is essential for digestion and pineapple is the only known food source for bromelain. Bromelain makes it easier for your body to digest foods, it helps fight infection, recover muscles, and it may even have pain relieving properties!!
Green!
Cucumbers are a simple yet wonderful vegetable. They are loaded with vitamin K, contain antioxidants, and they promote hydration! Cucumber is the best snack during the summer when you need that little boost of hydration and vitamins!
Zucchini, cucumber but in a different font, has lots of unique nutrients! Zucchini has lutein and zeaxanthin which help with eye health and protect the eye cells from blue light wavelengths. Zucchini is also rich in antioxidants, potassium, vitamin A, and folate. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9, which is involved in protein metabolism.
Wheatgrass, an acquired taste, has many benefits. Wheatgrass contains enzymes that help your body break down food and absorb nutrients. It also may have neuroprotective properties, allowing improved cognitive function. Along with these unique properties, wheatgrass helps fight infection, lower cholesterol, lower inflammation, regulate blood sugar, and may even prevent cancer!
Blue!
Blueberries, in my opinion, are the BEST snack if you get them fresh in the summer. They are delicious and have super cool properties. Blueberries basically contain the entirety of the periodic table with:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Potassium
Blueberries even contain vitamin C, B6, and K! With all of these nutrients, blueberries promote the production of collagen, maintain blood pressure, aid in managing diabetes, support heart health, and blueberries may even improve a person’s short term memory!
Indigo/violet!
I find that plums are often pushed aside and not properly acknowledged for how great they are. Plums lower inflammation, are rich in antioxidants, reduce blood sugar, and promote bone health. The potassium in plums are great for blood pressure and helps get rid of excess sodium. The fibre in plums also helps with constipation relief.
Eggplant, although not my personal favourite, is loaded with antioxidants and fibre. Eggplants may reduce risk of heart disease, and can lower blood sugar. In an ancient Indian system of ayurvedic medicine, the roots of eggplant have been used to relieve asthma.
Eating your colours is a simple yet efficient way to make sure your body is getting everything it needs. Your ‘colours’ don’t have to be anything fancy or expensive, all fruits and veggies have their own amazing properties and I only outlined a few in this blog. Find your favourites and see what they do to help you! Next time you go do groceries, think about the colours you are buying.
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Works Cited
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