On a recent shopping trip to the market, I was reminded of the need to step out of our daily routines and be adventurous, even with something seemingly as simple as our food. While loading produce in my cart, I was taken by a little boy (about 2-3 years old) who reached out from his cart to grab a spiny, red fruit and held it out for his Dad who was picking other produce. The Dad told him he wasn’t sure what it was, but “let’s get it and try something new”! How wonderful to encourage children to be adventurous with food and not give the typical, rushed reaction to put it back in the bin.
This pinkish red fruit caught my attention and reminded me of how we can change the pink ribbon meaning, just a little, to not only mean research and treatment of breast cancer, but the need for prevention! It all starts with our mindset and taking a little time to be open and adventurous. I’m sure you’re wondering how “pink” can relate to our food. Check out these delicious options that pack lot’s of cancer fighting properties.
Green is typically the color one thinks of when relating food to health, but eating the rainbow takes on a new meaning when you look at one specific color, pink/red, and it’s relation to the prevention of cancer. Skip the pink cookies and bagels, and check out these amazing foods and their potential benefits. Here’s how it works…
The naturally pink/red pigment in most produce gives them a variety of benefits that can include a higher level of antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamin C, and lycopene, which give us the natural cancer fighting properties that can help boost our immune system. Here are some examples and remember to choose organic to limit the toxins…
– Red Beets, Red Cabbage (cabbage also has the benefits of being a cruciferous vegetable), Pomegranates, Radishes – contain promising properties being studied for the potential benefits in cancer prevention
– Heirloom carrots – higher in antioxidants than their orange counterparts
– Apples – in season now & contain the powerful flavonol, quercetin.
– Sweet potatoes – with their pinkish skin are high in beta carotene
– Red grapes are rich in antioxidants with the benefits of wine, without the alcohol which some studies suggest can increase cancer risks.
– Pink Grapefruit – The phytonutrients in grapefruit called limonoid along with the pulp, have shown promising benefits in cancer prevention.
So is pink the new green? It definitely can be as powerful, however, the old rainbow rule of eating the colors of the rainbow when filling your plate still applies. Each of the colors gives us the full range of nutrients that can help bring us closer to total wellness. The first step is being willing to branch out and try new foods. Let your senses and childlike curiosity take over!
Reference: Greenmedinfo.com
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
