Benefits of Eating the Rainbow Health professionals often advise you to “eat the rainbow,” which emphasizes the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. You probably know that you should eat colorful…
Benefits of Eating the Rainbow
Health professionals often advise you to “eat the rainbow,” which emphasizes the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. You probably know that you should eat colorful fruits and vegetables, but you may wonder why it’s so important and if doing so truly benefits your health.Eating the Rainbow
Simply put, eating the rainbow involves including fruits and vegetables of different colors in your diet every day. Plants contain different pigments, or phytonutrients, which give them their color. Different-colored plants are linked to higher levels of specific nutrients and health benefits.While eating more vegetables and fruit is always a good idea, focusing on eating a variety of colors will increase your intake of different nutrients to benefit various areas of your health.
Red / Fruits and Veggies
Main phytonutrients: lycopene (from the vitamin A family)
- Tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Tomato sauce
- Watermelon
- Pink guava
- Grapefruit
Orange and Yellow
Main phytonutrients: carotenoids (e.g., beta carotene, alpha carotene, beta cryptoxanthin), which belong to the vitamin A family
- Carrots
- Sweet Potatoes
- Yellow peppers
- Bananas
- Pineapple
- Tangerines
- Pumpkin
- Winter Squash
- Corn
Green
Main phytonutrients: leafy greens — chlorophyll and carotenoids; cruciferous greens (e.g., broccoli, cabbage)— insoles, isothiocyanate, glucosinolates
- Spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Avocados
- Asparagus
- Green cabbage
- Brussels sprouts
- Green herbs
Blue and Purple
- Main phytonutrients: anthocyanin
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Concord grapes
- Red/purple cabbage
- Eggplant
- Plums
- Elderberries
Dark Red
- Main phytonutrients: betalains
- Beets
- Prickly pears
White and Brown
- Main phytonutrients: anthoxanthins (flavonols, flavones), allicin
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Daikon radish
- Parsnips
- White potatoes
Life Priority products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Information is provided for educational purposes only. Rev 6/12
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