Fresh fruit and vegetables are irresistible, and the benefits of colourful produce will last far longer than those raspberry stains on your fingers.
The colour: Red
The goods: Red produce gets its colour from lycopene, a natural pigment and antioxidant that has been shown to help prevent disease and help keep your heart healthy.
The foods: Tomatoes, watermelon and raspberries
Recipes:
The colours: Yellow and Orange
The goods: Beta-carotene is a type of carotenoid that shows up as orange or yellow in fruits and veg. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which keeps eyes sharp. Carotenoids are good for your heart and have been shown to naturally reduce high-cholesterol levels.
The foods: Carrots, yellow peppers, corn and peaches
Recipes:
Ginger-Orange Curried Carrot Soup
Mediterranean Roasted Sweet Pepper Relish
Grilled Peaches & Planked Salmon
The colour: Green
The goods: Chlorophyll is a naturally occurring green pigment. Green vegetables like broccoli are a great source of folate, a B vitamin that makes red blood cells, and lutein, a type of carotenoid found in leafy greens that keeps eyes healthy.
The foods: Broccoli, zucchini, kale and spinach
Recipes:
Creamy Zucchini “Pasta” with Tomato & Basil
The colours: Blue and Purple
The goods: Jewel-toned produce get its rich colour from an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which helps prevent disease and keeps your brain healthy by reducing free radical damage.
The foods: Plums and blueberries
Recipes:
