Orange You Glad You Had a Sweet Potato
It appears that orange is the new green! Making sure you get your “greens” on a daily basis has always been emphasized as part of healthy eating (and of course it still is), but it is important not to forget about the other vibrant coloured foods that exist!
Orange foods are nutrient-dense. And no I am not talking about cheddar cheese! These orange foods are both vegetables and fruits. In a recent study by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, compared cardiovascular (CV) disease and colours of fruits and vegetables consumed. They were studying whether the colour of fruits and veggies, which reflects the bioactive compounds of a food or beneficial effects of a food, can be associated with protecting against CV disease. They found that a high intake of all four colour groups – green, orange, red and white – may be protective against CV disease (especially red and orange fruits and veggies).
There is still more research to be done surrounding the various compounds found in orange vegetables (i.e., winter squash, sweet potato and carrots). We do know that these orange foods contain beta carotene and vitamin A, which are both great for the health of your eyes. Orange foods are also high in properties that work as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories such as vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and manganese.
So get out there and enjoy these delicious orange foods for all their fantastic health benefits!
