Eating Rainbows

A good way to ensure you are eating a healthy diet is to paint your dinner plate with a rainbow of colourful foods. Take a wonder through the rainbow with us and learn more about the beneficial ingredients and available supplements. We focus on supplements by Terranova for this piece as they are so focused on this area and produce excellent food based products.

Red foods such as Tomatoes get their colour from Lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including sun protection, improved heart health and a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Whilst your best way to get lycopene is via your diet, supplements are available.

Orange foods contain carotenoids which may help with weight-loss and research suggests eating carotenoid-rich veg could lower your risk of breast and colorectal cancers. In the body, beta-carotene converts into vitamin A, which supports eye health, a strong immune system and healthy skin and mucous membranes. Beta carotene may also help to slow age related cognitive decline.

Astaxanthin is the pigment that makes salmon and flamingos pink.  It is another potent carotenoid found naturally in salmon, algae, shrimps and trout. It may help protect your skin from aging and your eyes from degenerating.

Yellow is for Turmeric. Research has shown the potential for Turmeric to improve heart health and prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis. It can be helpful to use turmeric supplements as it can be hard to consume a therapeutic quantity in the diet alone.

Green foods are packed full of antioxidants and nutrients that may specifically benefit your cardiovascular system. Research suggests that eating dark leafy greens nearly every day could lower heart disease risk significantly. Try TerraNova Intense Greens or Life Drink to increase your intake.

Anthocyanins are found in high concentrations in blackcurrants, blackberries and blueberries, as well as in aubergine, red cabbage, cranberries and cherries. Beetroot’s deep purple colour comes from betalains. Anthocyanins and betalains have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.