When it comes to
following a health or diet rule day in and day out – remember - the simpler the
rule, the more likely you will remember and stick to it. And what could be simpler than: keep it colorful!
The ‘colorful plate
rule’ is exactly how it sounds. The
wider the variety of colorful fruits and vegetables that are included along
with the meat and starch, the healthier, more nutrition-packed your meal will
be.
Also, if you are looking
to improve a certain area of your health regimen, these colors can act as a
rule-of-thumb to help guide you towards the fruits and vegetables with similar
nutritional values and bodily benefits.
Green
– Bones, Teeth and Circulatory System
Looking for strong bones
and teeth? Don’t pass up that glass of
milk but also look to your leafy green salad for help.
Green fruits and
vegetables are packed with fiber, Vitamin B and antioxidants, all of which are
helpful to the bones and teeth as well as the eyes and circulatory system.
Leafy greens and basil also prove to be a good source of zeaxanthin and lutein,
nutrients which may help to prevent stroke.
White
– Heart Disease and Stomach Cancer
High potassium food such
as cauliflower, mushrooms, garlic, onions and other white fruits and vegetables
are credited with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
The potassium in these fruits
and veggies may also reduce the risk of heart disease and stomach cancer.
Red
– Improved Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Looking to lower your
blood pressure? Reduce your cholesterol?
…Next time you’re in the
grocery store, stock up on cranberries, tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries and
any other red fruits and vegetables that you enjoy. Red fruits and veggies include
high levels of antioxidants which can help with blood pressure, cholesterol, improve
heart health and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Orange
and Yellow – Healthy Eyes
Orange and yellow fruits
and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, oranges and cantaloupe are rich
in Vitamin C, beta-carotene and potassium. These nutrients have proven to
help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and to reduce LDL cholesterol.
The body also converts
the beta-carotene in these fruits and veggies into vitamin A which helps to
maintain eye health.
Blue and Purple –
Anti-Aging and Heart Disease
Looking for an
anti-aging miracle? Stop searching the
creams in the beauty isle and head to the produce section to stock up on
blueberries, eggplants, and figs. Blue and purple fruits and vegetables are
full of antioxidants known for their anti-aging properties. Antioxidants also help with circulation,
memory function and the prevention of blood clots and heart disease.
These antioxidant rich
snacks may even help inhibit tumor growth.
…So, rather than
calculating a complicated list of daily nutritional values, simply keep track
of your daily rainbow. Keep your plate
and your day colorful to reap the benefits of variety and balanced nutrition!
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