Enjoying a Rainbow of Produce – Red Fruits and Vegetables

Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a wonderful way to make your dinner plate come alive – and may also help you live longer.   

Just like the rainbow, red fruits and vegetables come first on our list of produce and provide a powerful punch of anti-oxidants and phytochemicals ­– some of the nearly 10,000 compounds that supply plants with their colors and nutrients.

Lycopene and anthocyanins – the most common phytochemicals found in red fruits and vegetables – help reduce your risk of certain diseases and cancers, while increasing your wellness and longevity.

The fantastic thing about flavorful red fruits and vegetables is that one variety or another is always available. Featured below are delicious seasonal recipes that please almost every palate.

Lycopene

Known for reducing several types of cancer, lycopene can be found in anything made with tomatoes – sauce, juice, paste and soup – or fresh, right off the vine. Enjoy this hearty tomato-based soup – http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/ravioli_and_vegetable_soup.

Lycopene can also be found in:

• Watermelons
• Pink Grapefruits
• Guavas

Anthocyanins

Red fruits and vegetables are also chocked with anthocyanins that can help control high blood pressure and blood sugar for people with diabetes. There’s an even wider variety of delicious fruits and vegetables touting this powerful antioxidant:

• Cranberries –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/cranberry_pancakes
• Red Cherries –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/cherries_with_ricotta_and_toasted_almonds
• Red Apples –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/quick_applesauce
• Red Grapes –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/mixed_greens_with_grapes_and_feta
• Pomegranates –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/barley_and_wild_rice_pilaf_with_pomegranate_seeds
• Red Beets –http://connect.mdvip.com.uat.mindgruve.com/member/nutrition/view/brown_sugar-glazed_beets

Here’s more potent produce bursting with anthocyanins:

• Strawberries
• Radishes
• Red Peppers
• Red Onions
• Red Raspberries
• Red Plums
• Red Cabbage
• Legumes like kidney and red beans

Loaded with antioxidants, endless options of delectable produce can help you stay healthy and protect you from disease. No matter what you enjoy eating, choosing from a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is an easy way to add powerful phytochemicals and anti-oxidants to your diet.

Next week, we’ll discover the secrets behind orange fruits and vegetables.