If you’re planning to work out or already are, you know that one way to make all your physical efforts more effective is by consuming the right food and maintaining a proper diet. Doing so will not only provide your body with the calories and nutrients to make you feel energized, but it can also strengthen your immune system against various diseases.
Eating fruits and vegetables is only one part of a good diet. The other part goes to monitoring how much and what we eat. For instance, a study suggests that five servings of fruits and vegetables are the ideal amount to consume in a day. In just about two and a half cups, you can enjoy a plethora of health benefits that come with them.
As for what to eat, a usual tip that comes from health professionals and nutritionists is to consume fruits and vegetables according to the colors of the rainbow. Each corresponding color in fruits and vegetables has a specific advantage in our bodies when consumed.
The first color of the rainbow is red. Fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, apples, watermelons, and strawberries are rich in lycopene and anthocyanin. The former is an antioxidant known to reduce heart disease risk, protect eyes, fight infections, and protect against damage from tobacco smoke.
Next on the list is the color orange. Popular examples include carrots, yams, and pumpkins which contain beta-carotene, a nutrient that converts into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A promotes good eye health and a strong immune system.
Meanwhile, yellow or yellow-orange fruits and vegetables like oranges, lemons, and bananas are good sources of vitamin C.
However, as many people already know, green-leafy vegetables are the ideal food to consume when maintaining or gunning for a healthy lifestyle because they promote the growth of healthy cells and genetic materials. You can also achieve the same health benefits with garlic and onion.
Last but not least is blue to purple-colored fruits and vegetables like eggplants or grapes. They destroy free radicals that come from continuous biochemical reactions in the body.
Shifting or maintaining a healthy diet may not always be easy. We all know how much we enjoy our cheat days. But there are different ways that we can keep things exciting during mealtimes. One is to be creative in serving healthy food. You can either arrange them nicely on a plate or learn new recipes that you could make using fresh, healthy ingredients. Yet, the most important thing to do is to listen to your body.
You can always adjust the kind of healthy food you consume according to what works best for your body and exercise regimen.
And remember, when dealing with fresh produce, wash or cook them thoroughly to remove any impurities that may have latched themselves on the surface of the fruits or vegetables.
Now that we’ve recognized how important our well-being is, it’s time that we embrace a healthier lifestyle so that we can live longer and feel more energized to achieve our goals.