Can the colors on your plate tell you what health benefits you are getting?
Phytonutrients 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 phytonutrients.
This is exciting news for researchers since many of these phytonutrients act as antioxidants and also provide other benefits for cancer prevention. They also found that the color of the edible part of fruits and vegetables can tell you what class of phytonutrients it contains and therefore, what health benefits you can obtain. Finally!
Now when your mother says eat your vegetables, their good for you… you can see exactly how they benefit you.
Check out our guide to phytonutrients below!
Quick Tips For Eating More Phytonutrients
- Make sure you have at least 1 serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal.
- Add berries or sliced bananas to cereal each morning.
- Snack on bell peppers and carrots with hummus.
- Eat a salad with meals using a variety of colors; tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers… there are so many different combinations!
- Make a green smoothie with greens and fruit.
- Add fresh herbs to side dishes like pasta, rice, salads, lentils and beans.
