“Eat a rainbow of colors often. Every meal should include colorful fruits and vegetables because of their fiber and nutrient densities.” – Core Performance founder Mark Verstegen
If you’re like most Americans, your diet is deficient in (or, sadly, devoid of) fruits and vegetables. But your body needs these colorful foods and the benefits they provide, including improved health and wellness; immune function; and physiologic function. Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients – vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – to nourish your body that can’t be replicated in a supplement. Different colored foods play different roles in the body. Aim for at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables over the course of the day.
The key is finding some fruits and vegetables you like, and incorporating them into your daily routine (think apples slices, baby carrots, etc.). Try something new… raw, cooked, or added to other foods. Dining out? Hit the salad bar and create a “colorful” salad. There are, literally, hundreds of choices… below are just a few:
RED Fruits and Vegetables
- Health Benefits: Heart health and circulation; memory
- Fruits: Cherries, cranberries, strawberries, apples
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, red bell peppers, beets, radishes
ORANGE Fruits and Vegetables
- Health Benefits: Loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C; skin and eye health; immune system
- Fruits: Oranges, peaches, apricots, cantaloupe
- Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash
YELLOW Fruits and Vegetables
- Health Benefits: Digestion, brain function
- Fruits: Pineapple, grapefruit, pears
- Vegetables: Yellow peppers, yellow winter squash
GREEN Fruits and Vegetables
- Health Benefits: Muscles, bones, teeth
- Fruits: Avocado, green apples, green grapes, kiwi
- Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, green beans, leafy greens
BLUE/PURPLE Fruits and Vegetables
- Health Benefits: may have anti-aging properties and improve memory
- Fruits: Blueberries, blackberries, plums, figs
- Vegetables: Eggplant, purple cabbage
Your thoughts?
WE WILL HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER ATHLETE!
We provide motivated athletes with a simple, customized training plan to help them improve performance and reduce injury risk.
Athletic Performance Training Center 
3 Responses to “Eat Healthy: Get More Color in Your Diet”