Eat The Rainbow
Who doesn’t like a bit of colour in their life and when we sit in front of a plate or bowl of colourful food at the Gut Happy HQ we know we are ticking many boxes. Do you know how important variety in the diet is and adding colour is great way to ensure you are getting the full spectrum of, not just colours, but also nutritional requirements.
By adding colour, or eating the rainbow, you are ensuring that you are getting the fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and all the goodness you need to build your immune system and keep your gut, body and mind happy.
Phytochemicals, which are found in fruits and vegetables, is a chemical that gives them the vibrant colours, but they also play a vital role in fighting disease. The colours of fruits and vegetables are broken into five categories, those being red, purple/blue, orange/yellow, green and white/brown. Looking closer at each colour these are specifically what they do:
RED
Fruits and vegetables that are red are coloured by a natural plant pigment called lycopene. This lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cancer and keep hearts healthy.
PURPLE /BLUE
Anthocyanin is the plant pigment that gives blue/purple fruits and vegetables their distinctive colour. Anthocyanin also has antioxidant properties that protect cells from damage and can help reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.
ORANGE/YELLOW
Carotenoids give the orange/yellow group their vibrant colour. Betacarotene is a well known carotenoid that is found in sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots. When ingested it is converted to vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy mucous membranes and healthy eyes. Another carotenoid called lutein is stored in the eye and has been found to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness.
GREEN
Green vegetables contain a range of phytochemicals including carotenoids, indoles and saponins, all of which have anti-cancer properties. Leafy greens such as spinach and broccoli are also excellent sources of folate.
BROWN/WHITE
White fruits and vegetables contain a range of health-promoting phytochemicals such as allicin (found in garlic) which is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Some members of the white group, such as bananas and potatoes, are also a good source of potassium.
Apart from being pleasing to the eye when you sit down to a rainbow meal, its also doing amazing things for you on the inside.
Variety is the spice of life they say, so spice it up, get colourful with your food and try a new colour this week. Eat the rainbow today and feel the benefits tomorrow!
The Gut Happy Girls
xxx