Your Checklist to Eating More Colorfully
Have you ever heard the expression “eat the rainbow”? Well it turns out there are more reasons to do this than just having aesthetically appealing food photos for Instagram. Eating a vibrant array of produce will ensure that your body is getting the variety of nutrients it needs to operate optimally. What exactly is it about colorful foods that provides such great health benefits? In a nutshell, particularly colorful foods contain phytonutrients or plant compounds, which help protect your overall health.
In our infographic below, we break down produce into groups by color, to explain which nutrients they provide and what function of the body that helps. For example, you may think of hot red peppers as simply a spicy addition to your meal, but they also add flavonoids and Vitamin C, which aids with heart health and memory.
When it comes to integrating colorful foods into your diet to boost your nutrient intake, there are some no-brainers. Rich, vibrantly-colored foods like blueberries and dark, leafy greens have long been touted as nutrient powerhouses. But the fairer colors are not to be ignored, either! Your habit of adding lemon slices to drinking water could be helping to up your nutrient count, as well as the consumption of “white” foods, such as garlic, ginger, and onions. Just don’t count white bread toward your goal!
