What Colors Are On Your Plate? by Meri Raffetto RD

Can the colors on your plate tell you what health benefits you are getting?

As researchers are learning more and more about the foods we eat there is one hot topic that keeps coming up….phytochemicals. You may have heard the latest craze for lycopene found in tomato products boasting its heart health benefits. Phytochemicals are biologically active chemicals (not classified as vitamins or minerals) found in foods that our bodies may use as part of their disease-fighting arsenal. A single tomato or orange contains, hundreds, and possibly thousands, of phytochemicals. This is very exciting news for researchers since many of these phytochemicals act as antioxidants and also provide other benefits for cancer prevention. They have also found that the color of the edible part of our fruits and vegetables can tell us what class of phytochemicals it contains and therefore, what health benefits we can obtain. Finally! Now when your mother says eat your vegetables, their good for you… we can see how they are good for us!

Blue/Purple (blueberries, grapes, eggplant, plums)

Health Benefits:

A lower risk of some cancers,

aids in memory function, and

healthy aging

Green (spinach, broccoli, salad greens, green peppers, honeydew, kiwi)

Health Benefits:

A lower risk of some cancers,

vision health, and

strong bones and teeth

White (onions, bananas, garlic)

Health Benefits:

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BIO:

Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has developed online weight management programs to help people get off of diets and get into way of life. For more information or to sign up for our free newsletter, visit www.reallivingnutrition.com.

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