Nutritionists will tell you to eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables. This isn’t just because it looks nice on the plate – each colour signifies different nutrients our body needs.
The nutrients found in plant foods are broadly referred to as phytonutrients. There are at least 5000 known phytonutrients, and probably many more undiscovered. So what does each colour do for our body and our health?
RED
Red fruits and vegetables are coloured by the group of phytonutrients called carotenoids, which includes lycopene, flavones and quercetin.
These carotenoids are found in red fruits and vegetables
