We have all been told not only to eat our fruits and veggies, but eat them in a variety of colors – red, dark green, yellow, blue, purple, white and orange. Why? It not only creates a more visually pleasing plate for ourselves (and our kids!), but it provides us with a broad range of nutrients, including antioxidants!

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients that help prevent or delay some types of cell damage that lead to chronic conditions (heart disease, cancer, vision loss, diabetes, etc.)

Where can we find them? (foods)

Antioxidants obtained from the diet play an important role in the body’s antioxidant defense against free radicals that promote (i.e cause) cell damage, which is linked to an increased risk of a variety of diseases and even to the aging process itself. These antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene, and other phytonutrients (substances found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods that provide health benefits).

Vitamin C and Vitamin E are especially effective because they help reduce a variety of reactive oxygen species (those free radicals that cause cell damage) and are quickly regenerated back to their active form to neutralize the next set of free radicals — a natural boost to our immune system!

Vitamin C is abundant in fruits and vegetables and offers antioxidant protection against bacterial and viral invaders.

Vitamin E is generally found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and wheat germ to protect unsaturated fat in cell membranes as well as fatty nerve tissue from oxidative destruction.

Carotenoids are colored nutrients/antioxidants generally found in fruits and vegetables as well. (It’s safe to say fruits and vegetables are loaded with a variety of different antioxidants!) This includes beta-carotene (the orange color in carrots) and lycopene (the red color in tomatoes).

Aim for a variety of colors to obtain different antioxidants in foods. Examples of foods that are rich in antioxidants include (but not limited to): prunes, apples, raisins, plums, grapes, alfalfa sprouts, onions, eggplant, beans, whole grains, and fish.

Other antioxidants that can help keep you healthy include zinc (found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains, fortified cereals, and dairy products) and selenium (found in Brazilian nuts, tuna, beef, poultry, fortified breads, and other grain products). To get the biggest benefits of antioxidants, eat these raw (if it doesn’t need to be cooked, such as vegetables) or lightly steam them. Don’t overcook or boil them, which can lead to some nutrient loss.

How cooking with color can help your health:

Here are just some of the benefits of eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.

• Red: fruits and vegetables rich in this color help
  aintain a healthy heart, memory function, urinary tract health, and lowers risk of some cancers.
• Orange/Yellow: these fruits and veggies help maintain heart, vision, and immune system health, as well as lower the risk of some cancers. High levels of vitamin C and folic acid are found in these colored fruits and vegetables.
• Green: Fruits and veggies of this color decreases the risk of some cancers as well as heart disease, maintain vision health, protect against birth defects and keep red blood cells, bones, and teeth strong.
• Blue/Purple/Black: these fruits and veggies contain antioxidants that help lower the risk of some cancers, promote healthy aging, and improve urinary tract health, memory function and heart health.
• White/Tan/Brown: a diet rich in these colored fruits and vegetables will enjoy the benefits of lower cancer risk and heart health maintenance. These fruits and vegetables typically include health promoting substances such as folic acid, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.

How antioxidants affect diabetes:

High blood sugars (hyperglycemia) in those with type 2 diabetes promote auto-oxidation of glucose (blood sugar) to form free radicals, which is why antioxidants can help in reducing diabetic complications as a result of hyperglycemia. Measures of oxidative damages are generally increased in people with diabetes since hyperglycemia creates additional oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant protection. Although evidence does not warrant increased intakes of antioxidants to help treat or delay the onset of diabetes, including antioxidants in our diet can help protect our cells from some oxidative damage.

The best way to stay healthy is to eat a wide variety of vitamin-rich foods. Nutrient dense “super foods” are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which all minimize cell damage that may lead to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Nutrients work best in our bodies when we get them the natural way — through our diet! It’s best to aim for a variety of healthy foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet for optimal health.

Related Post: Eat the Rainbow!

Kids in the Kitchen is an annual event designed to address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition by getting children and their parents excited about leading a healthy lifestyle through interactive, hands-on activities.

It was such a joy to teach the importance of vitamins to more than 1,500 attendees this year. We are always so impressed by the parent’s desire to create a healthy home for their families, and the kids’ willingness to learn a fact or two.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that each child is given a “bingo card” that requires a stamp from our Vitamin Central booth to win prizes.

While we try to unload as much fun vitamin knowledge as we can, at times we’d notice adorable little eyes fixated on the stamp tucked in our hands– waiting anxiously for us to reward them for finding our booth.

Most of the time, the kids are like sponges, taking in whatever they can. We are frequently shocked by how knowledgeable they are about nutrition, and their love for fruits and vegetables.

Last year, one little boy even asked Kim (our Skinny Gene RN) if Vitamin K, referred to as the “Clotmaster”, had anything to do with platelets. Wow!

This year’s best response came from a sweet little girl. When Kim asked her “Where are your bones?” She confidently replied, “At home.” Turns out she has a couple of dogs.

Kids in the kitchen is fun and rewarding, in so many ways. Our hope is that the kids will leave realizing that yes, food should taste good; but it also has a purpose. Eating colorful, vitamin rich foods is important- whether they want to be strong like Popeye, have good vision like Superman, or just wanna live life and play in the sun.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

One of the most common questions we heard was, “How much Vitamin__ should my kid be getting?” We promised to give you the actual breakdown, so here it is, and a quick reminder as to why your kids need these vitamins.

“How Come?”

Vitamins play an important role in the health and development of our children. Adding vitamin-rich foods into our children’s diet is an easy way to help our children live a long and healthy life.

Our booth focused on a  few of the benefits of eating foods rich in A, C, D (and calcium), E, and K.

Vitamin A: Improves your eyesight and helps your body to fight germs

Vitamin C: Forms collagen, which maintains healthy tissues (muscles and gums). This vitamin also helps to boost your immune system.

Vitamin D: Helps your body to absorb calcium, which grows strong bones.

Vitamin E: Protects your skin from harmful UV rays. This vitamin is also a powerful antioxidant that protects your body from disease.

Vitamin K: Allows your blood to clot, which stops cuts from bleeding. It also helps to bind calcium to the bone.

“How Much?”

 For a fresh crunch!

•  Snack on cucumber and celery, both of these have <20 calories per serving (1/2 cucumber or 2 stalks of celery) and are full of fiber and water.  Both celery and cucumbers have been found to help lower your blood pressure.

 For a sweet treat!

• Try fruit for dessert or snacks!  Some delicious green fruits include melons, apples, grapes, and pears.   These fruits have ~1/3 the calories of the average dessert! 
• Add lime to foods for an extra sweet twist.  Limes are a great way to season foods without adding extra calories from fat. 

 It’s green on the inside!

• Kiwifruits are super sweet treats that are green on the inside!  Kiwi provides a great source of Vitamin C (95% of the daily value), the antioxidant that protects our body from cell damage, inflammation and cancer.  Kiwi also provides a good source of fiber useful in lowering cholesterol and keeping blood sugars under control.   Simply cut the kiwi in half and spoon out the insides. Be sure to eat the seeds for the extra fiber!
• Avocados are another green on the inside food that provides amazing nutrition benefits, including lowering your risk of cancer and promoting a healthy heart.  Add a slice of avocado to salads, soups, or sandwiches to enjoy these health benefits.

Super foods are a must!

• Broccoli and Spinach are great sources of iron, which help carry oxygen through your body to give you energy and calcium, essential for strengthening and protecting your bones!  Both are great sources of fiber containing ~4-5 grams fiber per cup, which is an excellent way to satisfy your appetite on less than 50 calories!  These two foods are super foods because they provide additional amazing health benefits with consumption, for example prevention of cancer, removal of toxins from our body, repair sun damaged skin, protect our heart from inflammation that may cause a heart attack or stroke, and enhance the immune system. 

By Emily Barr, MS, RD, CNSC