
Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables (the rainbow) in your diet is not only important for kids but for adults also. Often times we are tempted to just eat those fruits and vegetables that we like and rarely venture into trying different kinds or colors however, our bodies benefit from variety. Eating a diversity of colorful foods can be an easy way to get a complete range of the vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimal health. Each color in fruits and vegetables is caused by specific phytochemical also known as phytonutrient, which are natural chemicals that help to keep the plants healthy; they protect plants from bugs, the sun’s harmful rays, and other threats. Phytochemicals have properties that benefit the human body and each color indicates different nutrients. Red fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, including lycopene and ellagic acid. Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenoids and bioflavonoids. Green fruits and vegetables are rich in isothiocyanates, and vitamin K. And blue and purple fruits and vegetables are rich in anthocyanins and resveratrol. Make sure you get all phytochemicals in your diet and the best way to do that is to eat the rainbow!