We all know that a balanced diet is integral to our overall health, and that vegetables should be a major party of any healthy diet. But are some vegetables healthier than others, and thus more valuable to our bodies when we eat them? Some people suggest that you should try to eat all of the colors of the rainbow, while others say that green is the color you want to go for when it comes to vegetables. Is it true that green colored vegetables are the healthiest? While they are certainly good for you, there are several factors at play.
The truth is that you can often tell what kind of nutrients you will get from a vegetable based on its color. Dark green vegetables, for example, are high in iron, fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene, so they certainly contain plenty of nutrients. On the other hand, red vegetables are high in lycopene, ellagic acid, and have properties that lower blood pressure, so you may get benefits from them that you can’t from green ones. Certain green, leafy vegetables contain high concentrations of these nutrients, so it is good to eat as many of those as possible.
If you want to receive the largest amount of health benefits, you should eat as many colors of vegetables as you can. Perhaps loading up on more greens is a good thing, but that doesn’t mean that you should neglect the other colors of vegetables. The key is to find brightly colored, fresh vegetables, as this is when they will contain the highest level of nutrients. Try to eat vegetables with every meal and remember to mix it up. The larger variety you eat, the more you will see improvements in your health.