Eat the Rainbow: Unlocking the Benefits of Colorful Whole Foods for Health
- Upstream Wellness
- Nov 14, 2024
- 1 min read
Eating a variety of whole foods with vibrant colors offers tremendous health benefits, thanks to compounds called phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are natural chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their rich colors, like the deep red of tomatoes, the bright orange of carrots, and the deep green of kale. These compounds don’t just make foods colorful—they support our health in powerful ways.
Each color in fruits and vegetables represents different phytonutrients that serve unique roles in the body. For example, red foods like tomatoes contain lycopene, which supports heart health, while orange and yellow foods like carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant beneficial for eye health. Green vegetables like spinach and broccoli contain chlorophyll and sulforaphane, which can aid in detoxification and cellular health.
Eating a rainbow of foods helps ensure you’re getting a broad spectrum of these phytonutrients, supporting everything from immune health to reduced inflammation. For a more detailed guide on the specific benefits of colorful, anti-inflammatory foods, refer to our "Eat the Rainbow" handout. By choosing a colorful array of whole foods, you can naturally nourish your body and harness the full power of these health-supporting compounds.
