13 October 2021
Human beings require different nutrients from a variety of food choices in everyday living. Not only increasing the food diversity, but we should also opt for natural and healthy ingredients.
People tend to perceive that “healthy meals” are bland and boring. But do you know that healthy diets can actually be very appealing and appetising too? PhytoFairy will be sharing with you how the colours of foods are related to our health!
Red symbolises fire, it is the core of vitality. Red foods are typically rich in iron, which is the core element of blood to carry nutrients and oxygen to the organs.
Red foods are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene, as well as natural antioxidants. As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctors away”, adding red foods into your daily diets may help improve your health.
Red foods: apple, strawberry, wolf berry, red dates, tomatoes and pomegranate.
Orange and yellow foods are excellent sources of vitamin C because citrus fruits are commonly high in vitamin C and they are orange and yellow in colour.
Besides vitamin C, orange and yellow foods also come with natural beta-carotene. Beta-carotene will be converted into vitamin A once digested and they are good for our eyesight and skin health.
Orange and yellow foods also help strengthen our spleen and intestinal health, which eventually improves our digestive system. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system.
Orange and yellow foods: citrus fruits, bananas, pineapple, corn, carrots and pumpkin.
Green foods are the most common type of food colour that can be found easily in our daily diet. Green foods generally contain a lot of vitamins, folic acids, chlorophyll, lutein and other micronutrients, as well as having an abundance of dietary fibers, which is incredibly great for improving intestinal health and discharging the free radicals in our body.
Dark green leafy vegetables mostly provide great nourishments for our liver. For those who are often burning the midnight oil or drinking alcohol, it is necessary for your health!
Green foods: spinach, kale, broccoli, avocado, kiwi and cucumber.
Purple and blue foods are high in anthocyanin, one of the natural antioxidants. It helps to improve the scavenging of free radicals in our body. Eating foods that are rich in anthocyanin can also have brighter eyes and healthier skin.
Purple and blue foods: eggplant, plums, black rice, blueberries, purple sweet potatoes and seaweed.
White foods are usually rich in protein and calcium, which are the source of energy for daily activity of our body. Rice and noodles are the main sources of energy while fish and milk contribute quality protein needed by the human body. White foods are easier to digest, thus, it is very suitable for those who are having intestinal issues.
White foods: milk, tofu, tremella, rice, almonds and fish.
Colourful foods possess a variety of characteristics and properties. If we can consume ingredients of different colours in our meals, it could surely bring tremendous benefits to our well-being and health.