A healthy punch of colorful vegetables!
Scientific studies have confirmed that people who eat more fruits and vegetables, especially those with a deeper complexion, have a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and age-related neurological impairment. The secret lies in the colors.
It makes sense to study whether the compounds that plants make in response to stress can help humans in similar situations.
The first plant pigment - chlorophyll - initiates photosynthetic reactions, which produce most of the food and oxygen that most animal organisms retain on Earth. Other pigments serve higher plants by attracting pollen to their flowers and attracting seed-scattering animals to their fruits. Pigments protect plants from solar radiation, antioxidant damage to cells, environmental stress, and attacks by microorganisms, insects, and predators. Pigments heal damaged plant tissues, help control growth, and act in many ways that have not yet been discovered.
Beverly Clevidans, a research nutritionist at the U.S. Agricultural Research Service's Food components and health lab, predicts that individuals will receive 'phyto-nutrients' according to their specific needs. You do not have this particular enzyme, so you should eat more of this or that fruit or vegetable. '
Planning for children
When planning your garden and plants this season, keep in mind the rainbow of benefits that vegetables provide:
PIGMENT Class: Anthocyanins
Colors: blue, purple-burgundy
Favorable vegetables: black turtle beans; Purple cabbage, eggplant, and potatoes; Red onion
Health Benefit: These pigments can prevent or reverse age-related cognitive decline and/or neurodegeneration; Improve vision; Helps prevent cancer, heart disease, insulin resistance, and obesity; And promotes wound healing.
PIGMENT Class: Betalains
Colors: red-violet, yellow-orange
Positive vegetables: beets, lettuce, Swiss chart
Health Benefit: These pigments can protect against cancer, heart disease, liver damage, and ulcers.
Pigment Class: Carotenoids
Colors: yellow, orange to red
Vegetables: Carrots, leafy greens (hides chlorophyll colors), pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash, pepper
Health Benefit: These pigments protect the immune system, skin, and epithelial cells and can prevent heart disease, cancer, and macular degeneration.
Pigment Class: Chlorophylls
Color: Green
Favorable Vegetables: Deep green leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, and lettuce
Health Benefit: These pigments help inactivate cancer.
Catch a kaleidoscope effect: Many seed companies offer packets of mixed seeds. Check out the “rainbow” mix of beans, carrots, cauliflower, chard, peppers, and radish!
Do you consider color when planting your vegetable garden? Let us know in the comments!
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