ADDING COLOR TO YOUR DIET IS GREAT FOR YOUR HEALTH

By your PEAK Health and Fitness Team

Fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins and nutrients and provide long lasting energy throughout the day. The nutrients in fruits and vegetables are what provide them with their colors. Planning your diet to have a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables is a simple way to make sure you are getting the many vitamins that your body needs to stay healthy and prevent disease.

The color of your food is influenced by the type and quantity of certain nutrients. The darker or brighter, the more nutrients it contains. Here are some examples of the nutrients found in bright fruits and vegetables.

Dark green vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli): High in iron and calcium, as well as vitamins A, C, E and K. These are also high in antioxidants that help fight off cancer.

Dark blues and purples (blue berries, cabbage): High in anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that fight against cancer and heart disease.

Bright orange (citrus, peppers): These are full of antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and phytonutrients, which are good for your skin, eyes and heart and may decrease your risk of cancer. Beta-carotene gives these fruits and vegetables their bright color.

Bright red (peppers, beets, tomatoes): High in vitamin C. Tomatoes are especially high in lycopene, which is an antioxidant that may be beneficial in fighting prostate cancer in men.

The next time you are at the grocery store, spend some time in the produce aisle and take a look at all of the different colors. If you can put one item from each color that you see in your cart then you are off to a great start.