The other day I caught myself out by saying “oooo if you are feeling sick eat white foods… they are apparently good for your immune system” and then followed by listing off all of the white coloured foods I could think of… Onion, garlic, mushrooms, leeks, cauliflower… and then I stopped realising that I had only ‘heard’ this once and had NO IDEA why or if it was true.

So here is the dirt behind why certain food colours mean certain things to our body and why.

WHITE = IMMUNITY (beta-glucans); Immune system. Ok so I was right here. White foods activate our natural killer cells and reduce cancer risk whilst strengthening our immune systems

RED = HEART (lycopene); improves heart and blood health, supports joints and increases circulation.

ORANGE = VISION (beta-carotene); boosts eye and skin health and may decrease your risk of developing cancer

YELLOW = BEAUTY (carotenoids); stimulates digestion and promotes collagen growth for radiant youthful skin and strong bones

BLUE/PURPLE = AGING (anthocyanins); powerful healing antioxidants for retinal health and vision, assisting with healthy aging and improving memory

GREEN = DETOXING (chlorophyll); powerful detoxers, improves oxygenation and normalises digestion

So now when mum says “eat your greens” you can turn around and say “but what about my reds and whites too?”

K