Coloured food items can help you stay fit
By siliconindia   |   Tuesday, 26 July 2011, 23:58 IST
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Coloured food items can help you stay fit
Bangalore: Eating atleast five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday is suggested but did you know that you ought to in addition be eating as many differently coloured varieties as possible? Fruit and vegetables that are brightly coloured contain the most antioxidants that defend your body from unbalanced molecules that weaken long-term health. While it's essential to "eat your greens", it's also vital to eat your reds, oranges, yellows, blues and purples. Improved nourishment starts not only by cutting out the bad but adding in the good. Consuming an assortment of food is the best way to guarantee getting the fullest range of nutrients in your diet. So "consider variety, consider colour". Here is what the different pigments that colour fruits and vegetables bestow upon you. Red: Red vegetables and fruits are tinted by natural plant pigment -lycopene or anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are powerful age-defying antioxidants in cherries, tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruit and other red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene also helps reduce risk of numerous types of cancer, especially prostate cancer. Anthocyanins in raspberries, red grapes and strawberries defend cells from damage and keep our hearts healthy. Orange/yellow: "Carotenoids" is a natural plant pigment that colours fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, bananas, squash and sweet corn orange or yellow. Carotenoid is proved to be good for maintaining healthy eyes, reduce risk of cancer, heart disease, and improve immune system functioning. Citrus fruits are excellent sources of Vitamin C and folate (a vitamin B that helps reduce risk of birth defects). Apricots, carrots, mangoes, oranges and sweet potatoes contain alpha and beta carotenes, antioxidants that guard your skin from ultraviolet harm and build new cells. Green: "Chlorophyll" is a pigment found in the fruits and vegetables of the green group. Spinach, peas, cucumbers, celery, green peas, green peppers and other leafy greens contain lutein works with zeaxanthin (found in red peppers, corn, grapes and egg yolks) to keep eyes healthy. And help reduce risks of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which leads to blindness if left untreated. The greens also contain folate that helps reduce birth defects. Blue/ Purple: Blueberries, grapes, plums, and aubergines contain anthocyanins that improve blood-vessel strength, prevent collagen breakdown, protect and help reduce risks of heart disease, strokes and cancer. Studies have shown that eating more blueberries helps improve memory function and healthy aging. Make your own plate of rainbow by making a tropical salad with grapes, oranges, bananas and mangoes or try some different veggie toppings on your pizza, or make a snack including dried apples, cranberries, pears, cherries and mixed nuts. But make sure to get your plate of rainbow everyday to stay fit and healthy.

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