We eat vegetables and fruits for their Vitamin and Mineral contents. Vegan food is as important as the non-vegetarian food. The vegetable/fruit salads and salsa usually accompany non-vegetarian meals. These vegetables and fruits have certain chemicals that are called phytochemicals which act as anti-oxidants and play a big role in our general well-being and health.
Vegetables and fruit come in different colors - green, red, orange, purple, pink etc. The phytochemicals present in these fruits and vegetable give them their characteristic color. The darker the color the better.
The Green color comes from glucosinolates. It is found in Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprout, Kale etc. Glucosinolates are anti-oxidants and helps in detoxification of body thereby providing protection against certain types of cancer.
The red color comes from lycopene e.g watermelon, tomato, grapefruit, red peppers etc. Lycopene helps in preventing prostrate cancer and helps in cardiovascular diseases. Lycopene is also an anti-oxidant and prevents cell damage.
The orange color comes from carotenoids such as beta-carotene found in carrots, pumpkin, mango, apricots etc. beta-carotene gets converted into Vitamin A which is very good for eyes/vision, immune response of the body. Vitamin A is also needed for healthy skin and mucus membrane.
The Blue/purple color in fruits and vegetables come from anthocyanines. These anthocyanines are found in eggplant, prunes, blackberries, blueberries, plums etc. Anthocyanines are anti-oxidants, helps to maintain a healthy heart by preventing clot formation.
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