Drinking Your Colors!
By Donna Stark
You've heard it before and more than likely, you will continue hearing it be said, especially if you turn to healthy eating advocates for advice. I'm talking about when they recommend eating the rainbow. Now, of course they don't mean that in a literal sense. How would that even be possible? Rather, it's simply their way to remind you to add plenty of color to your diet because each color carries its own unique nutritional value. It's also an easy way to get visual confirmation that you're filling your body with some pretty good stuff. But I'm going to suggest taking this rainbow thing one step further. So in addition to eating the rainbow, let's also drink those colors!
Drinking Your Colors
Call me bananas, but there are days when the only thing I look forward to is the time that I can drink my colorful juices and smoothies. The colors that I choose are directly connected to the nutrients that each fruit or vegetable contains. It's an easy way for me to gauge how much nutrition I am consuming that day and it can be easy for you too! So let's get you started. Take a look at the following list.
- Yellow and orange - Fruits and vegetables in this color family contain powerful antioxidants and Vitamins A and C which can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and boost your immune system. Add some oranges, mangoes, carrots, and pineapples to your grocery cart the next you are shopping.
- Green - Oh, those gorgeous greens! What a great way to incorporate calcium and Vitamins K, A, and C into your diet and improve your bone health and immune system. Celery, avocado, kale, and wheat grass are some good options here.
- Purple - Purple produce, such as eggplant, red cabbage, beets, and pomegranates, are filled with antioxidants, nitrates, and Vitamins C and K which can help with blood flow, inflammation, and the fight against certain cancers.
- Red - So many red fruits and veggies are loaded with powerful, healthy antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and stroke. They can also help decrease damage to the body's cells caused by free radicals, so consider bringing home more tomatoes, cranberries, and strawberries.
Sweet Success
There's always room for more color in your life, so get creative and drink away! Your options are endless ... and so are the benefits from doing so! But the best part yet is that you may even find that standing in front of your blender is your favorite part of the day too!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Citrus Heights, Calif.