We all know that we are supposed to get about 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. What is not so clear is what different kinds of fruits and vegetables we should be filling those servings with to maximize the health benefits we get from eating those 5 servings daily. If all of your 5 servings have the same kind of nutrients then you are not getting a wide enough variety of the kinds of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. It might sound like it requires a lot of effort to pick out which fruits and vegetables you should be filing your 5 daily servings with but it can be as simple as using your eyes.
Colors Matter
If you know what you are looking for you can easily identify what kinds of nutrients different types of fruits and vegetables have simply by checking out the color of the produce. It is a somewhat well known fact that different colors of produce offer different types and amounts of nutrients naturally. You can get a good idea of what kinds of vitamins and nutrients particular types of produce can give you from the color of the fruit or vegetable alone.
Some people chose to follow the advice of “eating a rainbow” when it comes to filling their daily requirements for this food group. This phrase implies that all you need to do is get as much of a variety of color into your diet as possible and you will be able to get the health benefits that all the different items have to offer. A diet that includes a wide variety of colored fruits and veggies means that you are getting a diverse selection of much-needed vitamins, nutrients and minerals.
What’s In a Color?
Red produce like red peppers, cherries, tomatoes, strawberries, red apples and more typically have nutrients like lycopene, ellagic acid, and a lot more. Red produce can help with lower blood pressure and reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
Green fruits and veggies contain a lot of nutrients such as chlorophyll, fiber, calcium, folate, and a ton more. There are so many green options to choose from when it comes to green produce. Popular green items are lettuce, peas, zucchini, avocados, artichokes, limes, cucumbers, and many more. These items can help regulate your digestion, boost your immune system, and lower blood pressure.
Orange and Yellow fruits and vegetables have high levels of beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients. The nutrients found in this produce can help support healthy eyes, reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol, and supply the much-needed Vitamin C to keep your body healthy. Popular orange and yellow fruits and vegetables include bananas, lemons, squash, corn, oranges, mangoes, and pineapples.
The other color groups include the blue and purple fruits and veggies as well as the white fruits and vegetables. These groups also have their distinct advantages over the other groups and can provide even more essential nutrients to keep the body happy and healthy.
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