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Add Colorful Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet

Fruits and Vegetables are heros. Not only are they low in calories and high in fiber, they contains unique phytochemicals, or antioxidants, that boost your health. It's important to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day to reap the health benefits. That's because each color contains different sets of phytochemicals that provide different health benefits.

Green: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens spinach, and bok choy??Lutein appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke as well as guard against age-related macular degeneration. Dark green leafy vegetables are usually high infolate, a B vitamin that shows promising results in preventing heart diseases. In addition, Sulforaphane, a photochemical present in cruciferous vegetables, was found to detoxify cancer-causing chemicals before they do damage the body.

Red: Tomatoes, red bell peppers, watermelon and pink grapefruit??Lycopene shows promise in fighting lung and prostate cancers. Lycopene is actually more available after cooking or processing, so canned tomato products are actually better for you!

White: Cauliflower, banana, mushrooms, and onions?These contain anthoxanthins and allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and prevent stomach cancer.

Orange: mango, oranges, pumpkin and carrots??The beta carotenes in these orange super fruits and vegetables may prevent cancer, particularly of the lung, esophagus and stomach. They may also reduce risk of heart disease and improve immune function.

Purple: Blueberries, Concord grapes, prunes and red cabbage??The anthocyanins that give these fruits their distinctive colors may help ward off heart disease by preventing clot formation. They may also help lower risk of cancer.

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