Eating the Rainbow

Thought: How many colours did you eat today?

For those that are unaware, phytochemicals are the plant chemicals that give fruit and veggies their colour and flavour. They provide protection against disease in plants and can also provide health benefits for us. The scientific evidence of these health benefits of eating vegetables and fruit has been reported for decades and continues to strengthen as more research is done.

Different fruit and vegetables can help protect the body in different ways. Therefore, it is so important to ensure we are eating enough fruit and veggies from all different colour spectrums. The current recommended dietary intake for Australian adults, as stated on the government website, is 2 fruits and 5 vegetables per day. By eating a wide range of fruit and vegetables, it helps us to achieve the benefit of phytochemicals.

"Eating an assortment of fruit and veggies on a regular basis can also contribute to a healthy heart, healthy bowel and is associated with a reduced risk of stroke, weight gain and some cancers." (Heartfoundtion.org, 2017)

Thus, revise your diet and make sure you are having a fair intake of fruits and veggies per week. They can be fresh, frozen, canned or dried, and can be red, green, orange, brown or even purple – all forms provide some sort of nutrients to your body. (But... fresh is best!)

For more information on this topic visit:

• http://healthier.qld.gov.au/about/give-colour-a-spin/

• http://gofor2and5.com.au/

• https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition/fruit-and-vegetables

• https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/n55

#Rainbow #Fruit #Veggies #government #australia #diet