Colour Your Health With Superfoods
Scientists are discovering that many degenerative diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and eye diseases, are not inevitable. It is now an accepted fact that degenerative diseases are the consequences of the way we live and what we eat.
One of the biggest discoveries is that colorful fruits and vegetables contain many disease-fighting compounds known as phytochemicals and that we need the protective benefits of the full spectrum of their bright colors. Eating 9 to 10 servings of vibrantly coloured produce each day is optimal for degenerative disease protection (1 serving equals either 1/2-cup chopped vegetables or fruits or 1 cup berries or chopped greens). Individuals who struggle to eat fruits and vegetables abundantly will find a multi-coloured greens drink containing a variety of superfoods very helpful in reaching the 9 or more servings a day. A rainbow approach to eating (green, yellow-orange, red, blue-purple coloured fruits and vegetables) provides a broad range of these health-promoting phytochemicals.
The word phytochemical, in this context, refers to a wide range of naturally occurring chemicals that give flavour, colour, texture and odour to plants. In fact, the more intensely colored and the more flavorful and scent-filled the plant, the more concentrated the health-protective phytochemical content.
Our primary sources of phytochemicals are vegetables (including seaweed and algae), fruits (especially berries), cereal grasses, and sprouts. However, many legumes (soybeans), whole grains, nuts, seeds (flaxseeds), herbs (thyme, oregano), and spices (turmeric, ginger) provide impressive amounts. Hundreds of phytochemicals are being studied to understand how and why those found in colour-laden produce, herbs and superfoods contribute to such positive effects on human health.
There are literally thousands of different phytochemicals found throughout the plant kingdom. These phytochemicals are proving to exhibit a wide range of biological activities, arising mainly from their antioxidant properties, their anti-inflammatory strengths, and their ability to boost the body’s natural detoxification systems. They have been recognized to exert anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-cardiovascular disease, and anti-cancer activity as well as analgesic, anti-allergic, liver protective, estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects. This encouraging research is at the forefront of modern science’s efforts to prevent as well as cure disease. Adding high-nutrient colorful superfoods to our diet allows the term “eat your fruits and veggies” to take on a new and enhanced meaning. We can create a true rainbow of health by following this age-old wisdom.
Blog written by Prairie Naturals