Since childhood, many of us have heard the phrase “eat the rainbow”. The reason behind this is due to the antioxidant and phytochemical profiles associated with each fruit or vegetable color.
Red-colored fruits and vegetables are often high in phytonutrients that fight inflammation, modulate the immune system, and contain antioxidants that can prevent or slow damage to cells. Reducing inflammation is important as chronic inflammation has been closely associated with a wide array of conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. In grief, individuals who experience elevated grief have been shown to have a 17% increase in inflammatory levels. As a result, it is important to reduce overall inflammation for disease prevention.
In an article titled, A Review of the Science of Colorful, Plant-Based Foods and Practical Strategies for “Eating the Rainbow”, Dr. Deanna Minch, Ph.D., IFMCP, a functional nutritionist who studies plant-based pigments wrote, “Vitamin C is well known or its effects on the immune system, and in states of increased inflammation, vitamin c levels tend to decrease in the body.”
For lunch this week, consider making a warm, winter salad and including pomegranate arils as your red topping. In selecting a pomegranate, keep in mind that you will want to choose fruit with a deep red hue which indicates a higher anthocyanin level.
Red-colored fruits and vegetables are often high in phytonutrients that fight inflammation, modulate the immune system, and contain antioxidants that can prevent or slow damage to cells. Reducing inflammation is important as chronic inflammation has been closely associated with a wide array of conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc.
If you'd like to take a deep dive into the world of phytonutrients, watch the video below.
Source: Minich, Deanna. (2019). A Review of the Science of Colorful, Plant-Based Food and Practical Strategies for “Eating the Rainbow”. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2019. 1-19. 10.1155/2019/2125070.