Cancer fighting colorful foods
In recent years, many studies have found that eating colorful fruits and vegetables can lead to better health.
Plant-based foods, like everything we eat, offer us different health benefits. The vital nutrients that a vegetable source provides are not the same as those found in animals. However, two vegetables with the same color can offer identical nutrition benefits. Dark, red, or purple foods may provide benefits that are unique to them.
Today, we are finding that some foods and colors can help fight serious illnesses like cancer. This is because they contain phytochemicals, or plant chemicals. Some mechanisms that contribute to the risk of developing cancer are still unknown, but there is growing evidence that there are synergistic effects between diet and other lifestyle behaviors.
Red: tomatoes and watermelon; pink grapefruit, guavas, and cranberries
There are a few fruits and vegetables that have an intense reddish cast because of their high levels of Lycopene, an antioxidant which may help to prevent cancers. High-intensity fruits and vegetables can help lower your risk of cancer and heart attacks. Though more research needs to happen before any conclusions are drawn, fried tomato sauce is a great source of lycopene, since that kind of cooking helps the body to absorb it more easily.
Orange: carrots, mangoes, cantaloupe, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, apricots
Foods that are orange may be healthy as they contain nature's natural beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. These three nutrients can convert into vitamin A. Beta-carotenes, found in the orange fruits and veggies, may be able to reduce risk of lung, esophagus & stomach cancers.
Brown: chickpeas, lentils, beans
Lentils, black beans and chickpeas are rich in folate, a B vitamin that helps prevent heart disease. These foods can also help to lower homocysteine levels, which are associated with blood clots.
Green: Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli
Cruciferous vegetables are rich in isothiocyanates and indoles, and are linked to reduced risk of heart disease. Green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, and spinach are powerhouses of nutrients; they're also packed with folic acid, vitamin K, carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids.
Purple: blackberries, blueberries, eggplant, prunes, beets, plums, purple cabbage, pomegranates
Our understanding of the antioxidant properties of anthocyanin may be beneficial for lowering risk for cancer and heart disease. They can also lessen the painful effects of arthritis.
What are the Health Risks Associated with Eating a Standard Diet?
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is composed of processed foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. These dietary changes can lead to a variety of health risks.
The Standard American Diet is greatly contributing to the obesity epidemic and other health problems in the United States. It has been proven that a diet high in processed foods can cause an array of health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Is There a Way to Lower Cancer Risk by Changing Your Eating Habits?
Researchers from the University of Montreal conducted a study that found individuals who consumed more vegetables high in vitamin C had a lower risk of developing cancer.
They believe that a strong correlation between increased consumption and lower risk of cancer can be seen across the board for all cancers.
However, it is not too late to start eating more vegetables high in vitamin C now. Cancer is too risky to wait around for years to develop and you don’t want your kids growing up with a higher chance of developing cancer either.
How Can You Ensure You're Getting Nutrient Dense Diet?
A nutrient dense diet is one that provides you with the right amount of nutrients. Nutrient dense means that a diet has more nutrients than the recommended daily allowance. This ensures that your body gets the nutrition it needs.
A vegan diet is a great example of a nutritionally dense diet as it includes lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. On the other hand, eating too much junk food will lead to a nutritionally deficient diet which means you’ll be lacking certain vitamins and minerals.
How can you make your diet more colorful with foods?
Colorful foods use color to create a mood and energize the person. They also help you focus on your meal by keeping it interesting without being too distracting.
In order to make your diet more colorful, you can add fruits and vegetables that have a wide range of colors to your diet. You can also dye some items in bright colors like red, orange, yellow, and purple to spice up the flavor of your meals.
Please call Superior Compounding Pharmacy in Plymouth Michigan to speak with one of our licensed pharmacists today at 734-404-6065. We can help answer any medication questions that you may have.
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