At the "Oxidation and Inflammation" nutrition seminar earlier this week, I discussed how some foods can decrease inflammation and help rid our bodies of free radicals - thereby improving recovery time, decreasing risk of disease, and simply making us feel better.
Antioxidants and phytochemicals are collectively called "nutraceuticals" - compounds in foods that have particular health benefits. Without getting into too much chemistry, certain nutraceuticals are associated with particular colors of foods - red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables, for example, are high in flavonoids which have strong antioxidant properties.
Since nutraceuticals work synergistically, i.e. in-tact foods provide better nutrient absorption than supplements, I pose the "3-Color Challenge": Have at least different 3 colors on your food plate at every meal and snack for one week (and various shades of beige do not count).
Example - instead of eating chicken and rice (which is really the same color) - try chicken with wild rice and replace half the rice with any green vegetable.
Your body, in addition to your palate, will thank you.
Good luck!
Justin Robinson, MA,RD,CSSD,FAFS,CSCS
Registered Sports Dietitian
Antioxidants and phytochemicals are collectively called "nutraceuticals" - compounds in foods that have particular health benefits. Without getting into too much chemistry, certain nutraceuticals are associated with particular colors of foods - red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables, for example, are high in flavonoids which have strong antioxidant properties.
Since nutraceuticals work synergistically, i.e. in-tact foods provide better nutrient absorption than supplements, I pose the "3-Color Challenge": Have at least different 3 colors on your food plate at every meal and snack for one week (and various shades of beige do not count).
Example - instead of eating chicken and rice (which is really the same color) - try chicken with wild rice and replace half the rice with any green vegetable.
Your body, in addition to your palate, will thank you.
Good luck!
Justin Robinson, MA,RD,CSSD,FAFS,CSCS
Registered Sports Dietitian
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