The hue foods
To stay healthy, we need to eat a variety of foods. Since different foods contain varying amounts of nutrients, eating a wide-ranging diet ensures we meet our requirements for protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals. This helps to keep our bodies in top condition. One of the ways to ensure you are getting this balanced assortment, is to choose foods based on their colour.
Over the past few years, there has been increasing scientific evidence to suggest that there are substances in foods - particularly fruits and vegetables - that can help keep cancer and heart disease at bay. These substances are called phytochemicals (phyto meaning 'from plants'), and include carotenoids and flavonoids, which are naturally occurring pigments that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant and distinctive colour. They are responsible for the orange of carrots and sweet potatoes, the red of cherries and tomatoes, and the dark green of spinach, broccoli and spring cabbage.
How colour works
Diseases like cancer and heart disease are often attributed to the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are the natural by-products of ongoing biochemical reactions which are produced during metabolism and by the body's immune system. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, pesticides, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also be a source of free radicals. If left to build up in the body, free radicals can cause damage to both the structure and insides of our cells. If our body cannot repair the damage, these cells are more likely to develop cancer. In the case of heart disease, free radicals can play a part in the formation of deposits in our blood vessels. These accumulated deposits can cause the vessels to narrow and affect blood supply to the heart. If the blood vessels become completely blocked, blood will not be able to flow through to the heart, which can lead to a heart attack.
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