It was a Sunday night and you had a great meaty dinner and a long night’s sleep. Don’t you think you should let the delicious animal rest for a day? Well, you can make your Mondays meatless. If you didn't know that going meatless once a week may help in reducing your risk of chronic preventable diseases then we tell you that it can help in preventing diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease as well as cancer. And you can also save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuels by going meatless just once a week. The advice 'Eat the rainbow' is great since it gives you a push to eat different fruits and vegetables. We bring you 6 colours you must include in your diet on your Meatless Monday quest.
Gorgeous Green
Say no to meaty stuff on Monday cos it’s time to go green. Green vegetables and fruits help in boosting the immune system. The leafy green vegetables contain fibre, lutein, calcium, Vitamin C zeaxanthin and Beta-carotene. The nutrients that are found in these vegetables and fruits reduce cancer risks, LDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, support retinal health and vision, normalize digestion time and fight harmful free-radicals. Right from avocados, broccoli, green beans, spinach, cabbage to green grapes, green apples, cucumbers, green vegetables and fruits are packed with health benefits.
Outstanding Orange
Isn’t the colour orange, simply outstanding? The bright and sunny colour can energize moods and the healthy aura of the colour does much more. It is one of the healthiest colours when it comes to your choice of food. The antioxidants, fibre, vitamins, and phytonutrients that are present in orange foods in abundance are great for your eyes, skin and heart. Wait, we’re not done yet, they also decrease your risk of cancer. Take your dose of orange fruits in the form of peaches, cantaloupe, oranges, papaya, and mangoes. Don’t forget the vegetables, carrot and pumpkin.
Radiant Red
The radiant red coloured apple has gained popularity with the phrase, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But do you know that red fruits and vegetables are the new health powerhouses? These red fruits and veggies are packed with powerful as well as healthy antioxidants including lycopene and anthocyanins. Not only do they fight heart disease and prostate cancer, they also decrease the risk for stroke. They soak up the free radicals that are damaging your body. Strawberries, cherries, cranberries, apples, watermelons, pomegranates, tomatoes, raspberries, red peppers, red onions and of course apples, make sure you add at least a few to your daily diet.
Yummy Yellow
This bright and sunny hue represents hope, happiness and joy. Eating yellow coloured foods not only nourishes your body but also your body and soul. These nutritional powerhouses not only contain antioxidants but also have vitamin C in abundance. Yellow foods speed up your digestion, improve vision, add boost the immune system. Expect healthy skin, stronger teeth and bones and wound healing on consumption of yellow foods. Yellow peppers, lemons, sweet corn, pineapple, and bananas, all these colourful healthy fruits and vegetables have long term benefits on the body.
Wholesome White
Aren’t you often asked to eat the rainbows, but they underestimated the warm white colour. If you didn’t know then some white vegetables are packed with nutrients that we tend to miss most often, which gives them the name ‘shortfall nutrients’ mainly potassium and magnesium. They also contain nutrients such as EGCG, beta-glucans, SDG, and lignans that boosts immunity. These nutrients also help in activating natural killer B and T cells, and reduce the risk of prostate, breast, and colon cancers along with balancing hormone levels. Whether it’s the toothsome mushrooms, beneficial garlic, power packed potato or our good old onions, white vegetables are great for your health.
Pretty Purple
The pretty purple fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which makes them a great addition to your diet. The health benefits of purple foods are well known, they neutralize the agents of disease and aging keeping you younger for a longer period of time. These fruits do not only look good in still life paintings or simply sitting in your fruit basket but have long lasting health benefits. Purple cabbage, purple cauliflower, eggplant, plums and blueberries are a must add food item in your meatless Monday diet. Follow the meatless Mondays rule and give your body a healthy and colourful treat. Your body will thank you later!
