Why should you “eat the rainbow?”

You might have heard that you should ‘eat the rainbow’. This phrase refers to including a range of different colored fruits and veggies in your diet. The question is, why is eating the rainbow so important?

Fruits and vegetables contain what are known as micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Micronutrients are vital for keeping your body functioning optimally. They are needed for lots of different chemical reactions throughout your whole body, including in your brain, gut, and muscles.

Every vitamin and mineral has its own functions in the body. They are all just as important as each other and that’s why it’s crucial for you to eat adequate amounts of each of them.

Several micronutrients are also needed for your immune system, including vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, B6, and B12. They are required to keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. They play a key role in your metabolism by helping the proteins in your digestive system to break down foods into their constituents.

Different colored fruits and vegetables contain different kinds of vitamins and minerals. For example, red or orange fruits and vegetables tend to contain a lot of vitamin A. Green leafy vegetables contain high levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium.

By eating a wide range of different colored fruits and vegetables, you can ensure that you are consuming all of the different micronutrients. You can avoid nutritional deficiencies and keep your body as healthy as possible.

Keeping your plate nice and colorful not only looks great but it also keeps you feeling great, energized and able to focus.

Every time you are preparing a meal, consider the different colors you can include. Think about where you can add in an extra portion of fruits or vegetables. It’s easier than you might first think! Add berries into your morning yogurt, eat an extra piece of fruit at lunch, or stir a portion of spinach into your stir fry.