Saturday, February 13, 2010

How to Color Your Diet

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How to Color Your Diet

by carolineschley

In our overworked, underplayed, sleep-deprived, on-the-go society your best bet for maintaining a youthful complexion, a healthy immune system and a sharp mind is to pack your lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants into your diet. Make it fun and easy by keeping track of the number of colors you eat each day. Cheeto orange and Gatorade blue don't count though--you need to get your colors from fruit and vegetable sources.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture long has recommended that Americans eat at least five half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables a day. If you already down this recommended amount, good for you! But if your salads are all green and apples are your only go-to fruit, you may still be missing out on important health benefits.

A 2006 study in the medical journal Nutrition suggested that absorbing a large variety of vitamins and antioxidants from a variety of sources in small amounts might provide more health benefits than consuming only a few types of vegetables in large quantities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, highlighting the importance of a diverse produce selection by stating, "Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C."

When it comes color, choose deep or bright hues to ensure high nutrient content. Sandra Bastin, a food and nutrition specialist at the University of Kentucky School of Agriculture, recommends that you store fruits and vegetables for as short a time as possible to prevent the loss of color, nutrients and flavor.

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