The Food Colorings, For Super Health

As children we were told to eat our greens, but we should have also been told to eat up our reds, yellows, oranges, blue, and purples. Fruit and vegetables are packed with nutrients and vital substances that protect us from all sorts of degenerative diseases. We need to be eating a rainbow of colors and as big a variety of fruit and vegetables as possible.

The color blue. Anthocyanines found in fruits like blueberries and bilberries are wonderful anti-oxidants that boost the production of collagen which helps to maintain the elasticity of the skin and so much more. This anti-oxidant increases short term memory, improves balance and co-ordination.

The blue lagoon smoothie - blueberries, dark plums and banana. Blueberries are bursting with vitamin C and bioflavonoids that enhance the absorption of vitamin C. Banana is high in fiber and potassium, gives the smoothie a rich texture.

The color red. Lycopene is found in red fruits like tomatoes, water melon and pink grapefruits, a member of the carotenoid family and seems to target the organs like the lungs, stomach, and pancreas. If you are susceptible to aches and pains or suffer from any type of arthritis you will need to consider not eating many tomatoes for your source of lycopene, eat more watermelon and pink gratfruit. A lot of arthritis sufferers have have experienced improvements after avoiding tomatoes as they cause considerable acidity in the body. Lycopene reduces the risk of breast and cervical cancer.

Red sunset smoothie - water melon, strawberries and banana. Water melon is very cleansing and hydrating, contains compounds that protect against cell damage.Strawberries are also rich in vitamin C, helping to fight infection, anti-inflammatory properties helping ease aches, pains and joint complaints.

The color purple. Flavonoids found in fruits like blackberries and blackcurrants, protect against heart disease by dis-arming free-radicals in the blood stream before they do any harm. They help keep cholesterol levels healthy helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Flavonoids help to increase the absorption of vitamin C.

Purple Boost smoothie - Blackberries, beetroot and banana. Blackberries are bursting with vitamin C to boost the immune syste. Beetroots are excellent for cleansing, stimulating the liver and the kidneys.

The color orange. Beta-carotene found in orange fruits and vegetables like apricots, pumpkin and carrots, protect against cancer, enhances the immune system against viral infection, cystitis, conjunctivitis and skin conditions.
Orange Zing smoothie - Carrots, orange, banana and ginger. Carrots are cleansing, stimulating the liver.

The color green. Glucosinolate found in green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, is one of the most important anti-oxidants protecting against cancer. They are extremely cleansing to the whole body.
Green sensation - Cabbage, apples and cucumber.

The color yellow. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are found in yellow fruit and vegetables like yellow corn, yellow peppers, grapefruit etc. These substances protect the eyes from age related disease like macular degeneration and cataracts, protecting against free-radical damage.

Yellow burst smoothie - Pineapple, grapefruit and banana.
Are you getting all the food colorings you need?

Don't ignore the white fruits and vegetables they too have plant compounds that will enhance your health. Normally health advice says avoid the color white but only in the context of refined white rice, refined white flour. Include in your diet cauliflower, and white radish, white cabbage.