A plate of colored food is not only very pleasing to our eyes, but also
very healthy. What looks good to eat is also very healthy for us and if
you are finding it difficult to persuade your children to eat those
boring old tired looking vegetables, then try brightening up their
plates with some nice bright colors.
Kids love brightly colored pop and candy so it should not be a
difficult thing to persuade them to eat some brightly colored
vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, quashes and even thinly sliced
carrots with a nice dip. The more intense the color the better for you
they appear to be. Colored foods are normally packed full of
anti-oxidants that help to prevent diseases of the cardiovascular
system and to mop up free radicals present in our bodies. These
antioxidants are all chemicals, and many of the naturally occurring
antioxidants are highly colored. They are very good at destroying free
radicals.
Free radicals are a form of chemical that destroy body cells, and not
only accelerate the effects of aging, but also harm our heart. A free
radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. Electrons like to go
around in pairs. Every atom has pairs of electrons, and one atom has an
odd number then it pairs up with another atom with an odd number, so
the two form a compound with an even number of electrons.
However, now and again, the body’s metabolism throws up a molecule with
an unpaired electron. That electron’s first thought is to find a
partner, and it does so by stealing one from a cell in your body. The
result is the disruption and destruction of the cell. Free radicals can
also be formed by environmental pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides
and so on.
Anti-oxidants destroy free radicals, and generally keep us healthier
for longer. They do so by mopping up the extra electron, and there are
many different types of antioxidant that form part of our normal diet.
Among them are vitamins A, C and E, but there are others that are
complex highly colored organic compounds. Among these are the
anthocyanins, known to paint and ink manufacturers as strong red
pigments.
Anthocyanins are the pigments or dyes that color red grapes, egg plant,
plums and blueberries and they are very powerful antioxidants. However,
it is not only for antioxidants that we should eat colorful foods. Some
dark green foods, such as spinach, green peppers, peas, celery and dark
leafy vegetables, contain what are known as lutein. Lutein works in
combination with zeaxanthin to protect our eyes from cataracts and a
condition known as macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness.
Zeaxanthin is available from red peppers, oranges, egg yolk and corn.
Many people take folic acid supplements help maintain a healthy heart,
and especially women to help prevent birth defects. However, the
natural form of folic acid, folate is available from green foods such
as lettuce, green beans, broccoli, peas, green grapes, and many other
green foods. Broccoli and cabbage also contain indoles also known as
indol-3-carbinol are believed to protect your from some cancers. So
green is good!
Yellow is also good, and foods such as grapefruit, pineapple and melon
help to boost the immune system and keep infections at bay, and also to
provide energy and help maintain healthy eyes. Many antioxidants are
yellow, although yellow might not a color that you would associate as
being attractive to children, unless very bright. However, the yellow
foods tend to be fruits rather than vegetables, and it is much easier
to persuade a child to eat a pineapple than a squash.
Lycopene is another very powerful antioxidant that prevents the
oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol that can damage
the cardiovascular system through atherosclerosis. Lycopene is a red
pigment very common in tomatoes, and is fat soluble. It is a member of
the carotenoid family of antioxidants that are common in brightly
colored foods such as carrots, red peppers and many yellow fruits and
vegetables as described above. Lutein is also a carotenoid.
A diet rich in carotenoids is very good for keeping the effects of
aging at bay and protecting you from heart problems. Lycopene is
contained in the liver, colon, skin and prostate gland, and can occur
at higher concentrations than most other carotenoids. People that
suffer from HIV infections, high cholesterol diseases and inflammatory
conditions such as osteoarthritis, are generally found to have low
levels of lycopene in their blood.
Many of the so-called ‘superfoods’ are also brightly colored, and
useful not just for their antioxidant properties. Take cranberries for
example. These bright red berries contain proanthocyanadins that
prevent some bacteria such as e-coli from adhering to the walls of the
urinary tract and cause urinary tract infections such as cystitis, and
also from adhering to the gums. Cranberries can therefore be used in
the treatment of some gum diseases. However, they also possess strong
antioxidant properties that help to protect the body against some
cancers and also heart disease.
Blueberries are high in vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants with
strong anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranates have exceptionally
high antioxidant content and are excellent for a healthy cardiovascular
system while strong green broccoli contains not only vitamin C and
antioxidants but also folate (the natural form of folic acid) and the
phytochemical sulforafane that is believed to protect against certain
cancers.
The color of your food, therefore, not only makes it look pretty on
your plate and attractive to children, but also indicates the presence
of strong antioxidants and other chemicals that help to protect you
from specific medical conditions. It is no coincidence that the vast
majority of the so-called superfoods is vegetable in origin rather than
animal, and also tastes good. You should eat as many of them as you
can, and certainly at least five portions every day.
Some can also be used as a remedy for specific conditions in addition
to being used for their preventative properties, such as cranberries
are used in the treatment of diseases of the urinary tract, and
specific diets can help to reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in the
body. Eating with your eyes is not always a bad thing. Some may find it
hard to consume enough colorful fruits and vegetables to be beneficial
so what is a person to do? Your local health food store has available
powdered vegetable and fruit concentrates that supply all the needed
nutrients in one simple drink.
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