Eating Well By Color

A simple way to load up on nature's superfoods.

Content provided by:

1 of 6

Eating Well By Color // Foods arranged in a color wheel (Courtesy of EatingWell)

In the last couple of decades, scientists have discovered more reasons (beyond vitamins and fiber) to pack your diet with fruits and vegetables: phytochemicals. All plants contain these compounds, which protect them from a variety of dangers—from harmful UV rays to predatory pests. We take in phytochemicals when we eat fruits and vegetables and, as it turns out, they protect us too. Some act as antioxidants, mopping up unstable "free radical" molecules that can damage cells and lead to the development of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other health issues. Others work by boosting the immune system.

What’s fascinating is that nature seems to have a way of highlighting these beneficial nutrients by giving them bright colors that allow you to spot them at a glance. For example, anthocyanins make blueberries blue and may help to keep your mind sharp. Tomatoes get their ruby hue from lycopene, a phytochemical that may help to prevent prostate cancer. To get the maximum disease-fighting power that phytochemicals can provide, choose foods that represent all colors of the rainbow. The USDA suggests paying particular attention to orange (2 cups per week) and dark green (3 cups per week) produce, both good sources of vitamin A and other important nutrients. Use our vibrant color wheel to inspire you.

< Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Next >

Related EatingWell Recipes on Delish:

Print This

Print Entire Slide Show

Email This Digg

Join the discussion!

1-6 of 6

#1

Friday, November 20, 2009 9:17:02 AM

click here to get Christmas gifts

uipo

#2

Friday, November 20, 2009 9:14:44 AM

click here to get Christmas gifts

aqweitengrongasdfug

#3

Friday, November 20, 2009 6:27:39 AM

click here to get Christmas gifts

VETTE GIRL

#4

Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:22:33 AM

NICE TO SEE SOME IMPORTANT INFO ON THE NET NOT JUST TRASH NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT

new tehri

#5

Sunday, June 14, 2009 4:11:58 PM

The 10 Dirtiest Foods You're Eating

1.Chicken
2.Ground Beef
3.Ground Turkey
...
...

How to Cope With Hunger

If you have ever found yourself alone and not able to get food for a while, you will know what it's like to be so hungry. Maybe if you are camping out in the wild and you run out of food you could start going hungry. Besides trying to find food, there are things you can do to fight hunger.

How to Avoid Eating When You're Bored

Simple Ways to Deal With Binge Eating

new tehri

#6

Sunday, June 14, 2009 4:35:50 AM

20 Unhealthy Foods That You Think Are Healthy But Are Actually Killing You Slowly

There are many terms that are misleading in the food advertising industry today. Think of how many times you see the following phrases plastered all over food containers:

◦Fat Free
◦Reduced Fat
◦Low Fat
◦Sugar Free
◦No Added Sugar
◦Diet

We are supposed to believe that each of these categories makes a food healthier. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Here is what these phrases actually translate to:

◦Fat free, but full of sugar and chemicals.
◦Reduced fat, but increased carbohydrates.
◦Low fat, but high glycemic index.
◦Sugar free, but artificial everything else.
◦No added sugar… because the all natural version has enough sugar to give you type II diabetes anyway.
◦“Diet” food, but it causes cancer in lab rats so don’t drink/eat too much of it.

See these Top 20 Healthy Food Are not Health Indeed

1-6 of 6

PreviousNext

To add a comment, pleasesign in

Eating Well By Color

Related EatingWell Recipes on Delish:

Popular Nutrition Slide Shows on MSN Health & Fitness

MSN needs your opinion!

advertisement