Rainbow Foods: Enjoy Your Phytochemicals! (Page 7)

Colorless:

While the blue in blueberries might help to signal what nutrients are present in this fruit, there are many more beneficial phytochemicals that are colorless as well. In fact, the largest class of phytochemicals, called “flavonoids,” is, for the most, part colorless.

Health benefits: Flavonoids work as powerful antioxidants that may help the body to counteract free-radical formation.

According to Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), there are more than 4,000 different flavonoids:

Flavonols:

-myricetin (in berries, grapes, parsley, and spinach)

-quercetin (in onions, apples, broccoli, cranberries, and grapes)

Flavones:

-apigenin (in celery, lettuce, and parsley)

-luteolin (in beets, bell peppers, and Brussels sprouts)

Flavanones:

-hesperetin and naringenin (both in citrus fruits and juices)

Flavan-3-ols:

-catechin (in tea, red wine, and dark chocolate)

-epicatechin, gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate (in teas, fruits, and legumes)

Anthocyanidins: (in blue/purple and red fruits and vegetables)
As we continue to learn more about phytochemicals, the list of health benefits is sure to grow!

The beauty of a plant-based diet is that it is not only good for the planet, our fellow animals, and us, but it is also filled with bright, beautiful fresh fruit and veggies that tantalize the eye and attract the taste buds. So dig in and enjoy!

7 of 7
back to page 1

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melania P.

8:39AM PST on Feb 12, 2013

Thanks

February 12
send a green star

Fred H.

5:57AM PST on Jan 27, 2013

Thank you Alisa, for Sharing this!

January 27
send a green star

Melinda K.

5:38PM PDT on Aug 29, 2012

thanks, great info on the power of foods.

August 29
send a green star

Silas G.

1:17PM PDT on Aug 28, 2012

I tend to eat a lot of colorful foods, but it is interesting to actually see why we should eat them, besides the fact that someone said to. Thanks!

August 28
send a green star

Lyn S.

8:25PM PDT on Aug 27, 2012

I love the rainbow of colours that we can eat. However, for example, brocolli is one of the main sources of magnesium but the soil in Australia is severaly depeleted of this mineral. To have an adequate intake, even if you consume almonds and other sources every day, you'd need so large a quantity that the calorific value would exceed your daily requirements. So - obesity or supplements? Your choice!