It’s National Nutrition Month: Are You Eating Your 5 Colors a Day?

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We all know we’re supposed to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day, but are you getting all five colors?

Not all vegetables were created equal; the same goes for the wide variety of fruits. Some can prevent Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease and premature blindness. The only way to be sure you’re getting maximum vitamins is to include groups from all 5 hues.

  1. Seeing red? Fruits like tomatoes, watermelon, red peppers and pink grapefruit a phytochemical called lycopene, which many scientists believe is beneficial for preventing prostate and breast cancer.
  2. Orange foods are high in alpha and beta carotene, which your body needs to produce vitamin A.  Fruits like cantaloupe, tangerines and apricots have powerful antioxidants for killing  free radicals which threaten our immune system; yams, carrots and pumpkins are also good for your eyes and bones.  Now orange you glad you know that?
  3. Feeling yellow? Many yellow and green veggies  like wax beans, artichokes and corn contain lutein and zeaxanthin, phytochemicals which prevent you from going blind in your old age.
  4. Go for the green when shopping for vegetables; broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and green cabbage help to rid your body of cancer-causing toxins.
  5. Berry-licious shades of  purple, red and blue mean the presence of brain-boosting and heart-healthy antioxidants; deep purple eggplants, berries, radishes and plums will keep your clock ticking.

Wanna read more about foods that are good for boosting memory?

Sources:

Eating Well