Healthy Lifestyle Radio Storytime

In fruits and vegetables, the most common colors are red, white, yellow / orange, blue or purple and green. Researchers tell us that these colors contained in fruits and vegetables are sources of vitamins, essential minerals, dietary fiber and phytochemicals or phytonutrients that your body needs to promote health, and people feel good. But have you ever asked: How do fruits and vegetables their colors and health?, What are the colors of health, What fruits and vegetables are included in each color? And what could you eat fruits and vegetables to complete your healthy rainbow?

1. Red
The red color is very common in nature and full of optimism and vitality of our food. If we think for a moment about the different colors that fruits and vegetables may have, if you look you can get to make a rainbow with them.

Like all warm colors, red is very common among our kitchen, is often preferred by people. This is because the power of this color excites the taste and appetite. The usually red foods are those that bring more energy.

2. What are red foods?
We will find the color red:

- Vegetables such as bell peppers, radishes and tomatoes.
- Fruits such as cherries, watermelon, red apple, strawberry, pomegranate, raspberry.
- Other red foods. In our markets and our table we find this color among other foods in:

• The rich salmon omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce levels of triglycerides in the blood, protecting against cardiovascular disease.
• Beef (sections lean) and pork are both excellent sources of protein and iron.
• We can not ignore red wine, which contains flavonoids, which act to protect our circulatory system, thus preventing blood clots that are causing cardiovascular accidents. It was also found that wine has resveratrol, which protects us from cancer.

3. What’s in these foods?
These foods contain:

- A pigment called lycopene and is considered by scientists as one of the most potent antioxidants identified today, being our main source of tomatoes in this phytochemical. Studies in Aviano cancer center, show that people who eat raw tomatoes at least 7 times a week reduced by 50% the risk of developing cancer of the stomach, bladder and colon.

- Betacyanins antioxidants that are very beneficial to the body and that we find among the plants like beet red and between red fruits such as pomegranates and cranberries.

- The so-called anthocyanins, very effective anticancer agents.

Furthermore, these foods are high in vitamin C, insoluble fiber (thus preventing constipation and colon cancer) and pectin soluble fiber that acts by controlling the blood cholesterol levels. All this can be found in the berries (cherry, strawberry, raspberry, etc.) and red apples.

- Beta-carotene with anticancer properties, as these have a protective effect against lung tumors, breast, uterus, and prostate coleorectal in addition to guard against solar radiation. This can be found in red peppers and strawberries.

- Flavonoids

- Omega 3 in fish like salmon and iron in meat.

4. How do we help?
Ultimately red foods help us to:

- To have better cardiovascular health.
- Maintain an excellent memory.
- Reducing the suffering urinary system.
- Reducing the risk of cancer.

5. Curiosities of these foods

- Raspberry contains insoluble fiber (5%) has diuretic and laxative effect as well as serving to cure rheumatism.

- The red pepper has a high concentration of antioxidants such as selenium, vitamin C and carotene.

- The tomato is given the name of its high concentration SuperCom lycopene.

- The fruit has more water than is the watermelon (95%), so it stimulates the kidneys to function efficiently, facilitating the elimination of toxins and waste.

- Cherry gives a cherry wine, which when distilled provides a delicious liqueur called kirsch. In addition, sour and sweet cherries are also preserved, if desired, in spirit.

- Strawberries due to its high content of salicylic acid may cause allergic reactions, these are manifested by urticaria and itching. Thus, people allergic to aspirin to strawberries usually are and vice versa.

- If you want to lose a few kilos without going hungry every time you want to snack between meals, eat an apple. Quench, brings energy and non-fattening.

- Red peppers provides over twice the vitamin C found in fruits such as oranges, strawberries or kiwi. In fact, 60 grams of peppers contain the recommended daily allowance of this vitamin.

6. Healthy Tips

- To maintain a balanced and healthy diet, you eat 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day.

- Vary the food and how to prepare it.

- One serving of vegetables (150-200 grams) is equivalent to a large tomato.

- One serving of fruit (120-200 grams) is equivalent to a medium piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, pear ..), a cup of strawberries or a cup of cherries or a big slice of watermelon.

- When preparing raw tomatoes or juice, do not do well in advance, otherwise you will lose its nutritional properties (especially vitamin C).

- When preparing salads with tomatoes, do not peel, as their skin is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.