12 Tips of Christmas: #9 Eat a Rainbow

This is Rainbow Chard.  Pretty, huh? I doubt that I will
ever be able to find it here in Montana, so I guess I had
better grow some next year!

What's the best vegetable to eat?  All of them.

The phytonutrients, and therefore the benefits, of certain fruits and vegetables are often associated with color!  Here is a breakdown of SOME of the nutrients found in these colorful foods:

White

Foods: Cauliflower, garlic, pears, turnips, onions

Nutrients: Quercetin & allicin

Function: Healthy bones, support arterial function, promote cardiovascular health

Yellow Orange

Foods: Pineapple, lemon, yams, apricots, carrots, mangoes, chickpeas, yellow pepper

Nutrients: Carotenoids and bioflavonoids

Function: Skin hydration, immune function, eye and heart health

Red

Foods: Pink grapefruit, tomatoes, cranberries, red cabbage

Nutrients: Lycopene and ellagic acid, antioxidant compounds

Function: Heart health, memory function, protect your blood vessels, cartilage, tendons and ligaments from damage, urinary tract health

Green

Foods: Spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, asparagus, green beans, kiwi, zucchini

Nutrients: Calcium, lutein, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids

Function: Visual health, antioxidants, strong bones

Blue Purple

Foods: Prunes, eggplant, grapes, beets, red cabbage, blackberries, blueberries

Nutrients: Resveratrol

Function: Heart health, anti-inflammatory, memory function

So you see, there is not just one "best" vegetable.  They are all great!  Eat a variety for outstanding health benefits!