| As you learn more about nutrition you may find | | | | chemically isolated Vitamin A supplements may |
| the issue of eating an appropriately balanced meal | | | | exhibit liver toxicity at very low levels, carotenes |
| to be a bit confusing. There isn't any, single super | | | | derived from food have been shown to be safe |
| food that provides the body with all that it needs. | | | | even at very high dosages. Carrots are an |
| Instead we need to nourish the body with | | | | excellent source of carotenes, but remember that |
| balanced amounts of good, whole foods which | | | | cooking damages this antioxidant so raw, or lightly |
| provide a variety of nutrients and other beneficial | | | | cooked carrots are necessary for optimal |
| nutritional components to promote good health. | | | | nutritional support. |
| Amazingly enough, nature was designed to give | | | | Yellow is the color of Lutein and Quercitin. These |
| us some clues. Many fruits and vegetables are | | | | nutrients are beneficial for clear vision and good |
| color coded to help identify the types of nutrients | | | | health of the retina and have also been found to |
| found within. By striving to eat a more "colorful" | | | | have anti-inflammatory properties. They are found |
| diet, we can better achieve a balanced intake of | | | | in corn, bell peppers, apples and pears, but are |
| healthful food and benefit from better nutritional | | | | also found in many green, leafy vegetables like |
| support. | | | | kale and spinach. |
| Many of these colors come from antioxidants. | | | | Antocyanines are found in foods influenced by the |
| These molecules have been shown to provide a | | | | purple color. These antioxidants are important for |
| cancer-fighting arsenal to the body as well as to | | | | good blood circulation and health of the retina. |
| potentially reverse some of the biological markers | | | | Many berries are rich with this antioxidant and |
| of aging when consumed regularly, and in | | | | again they should be eaten raw for the best |
| appropriate amounts from quality sources. | | | | nutritional benefit. |
| The antioxidant Lycopene provides a red color to | | | | Finally a scarlet color comes from foods containing |
| some fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes. | | | | the antioxidant Beta Cyanine. An excellent source |
| When the tomato is vine-ripened the color of the | | | | of this color comes from the beet and has an |
| meat inside is a very deep red indicating higher | | | | anti-anemic benefit to those who include this |
| levels of Lycopene than what is found in | | | | regularly in the diet. |
| green-harvested varieties. Lycopene has been | | | | Adding more color to the diet can provide health |
| shown to protect the DNA from free-radical | | | | benefits as well as create a more interesting |
| attacks which reduces mutation and incidence of | | | | menu. Colorful meals are more attractive which is |
| cancerous cell development. | | | | probably what inspired our ancestors to add these |
| An orange color indicates the presence of | | | | foods to their diets in the first place. Be sure to |
| Carotenes which are converted to Vitamin A | | | | "eat from the rainbow" and you'll greatly improve |
| inside the body. Studies have shown that while | | | | the balance of your diet in vital nutritional support. |