Is Your Diet Colorful?

Are you trying to lose weight or improve your health, but aren't exactly sure what food choices to make to get you there? Experts suggest taking a closer look at the color of your diet.

According to David Heber, author of What Color Is Your Diet?, the color most commonly seen on the American table is brown or beige. This is usually the color of high-fat, sugary foods and refined starches. The problem with these foods, in addition to their nutritional shortcomings, is that they encourage a cycle of eating and needing to continue to eat because of a lack of satisfaction.

To make sure you're getting the nutrition you need and help protect your body from chronic diseases, it's recommended that you add as many colors to your plate as possible. Of course, we're talking about colorful whole foods and not processed foods that have been dyed. According to Heber, each color plays an important role in your health.

  • Red foods contain lycopene, which may reduce the risk of prostate breast cancer.
  • Yellow/green foods protect the eye from macular degeneration, the most common cause of age-related blindness.
  • Dark red/purple foods have shown to improve mental function.

Heber recommends that you eat 7 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Does that sound like a lot of food? Remember that a serving is generally a small amount of food, with a cup of raw vegetables equaling a serving. Most people can have multiple servings at each meal without overeating.

Take a look at your plate at your next meal. Could you use more color?

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