Eat Your Colors ~ Red

Today I am starting a new series called Eat Your Colors. Each week we will feature a color theme, and I will talk about the benefits of a fruit and vegetable that is the color of the theme for the week.

This week, the color theme is red.

The Health Benefits of Strawberries

Who doesn't love strawberries? Juicy, sweet and delicious goodness melting in your mouth on a hot summer day...

Below are listed just a few of the many health benefits of this red treat.

-Strawberries contain dietary fiber, which aids digestion and lowers blood pressure.

-Strawberries are rich in several forms of anti-oxidants, which fight against the onset of different types of cancer.

-Strawberries contain incredible amounts of Vitamin C, which strengthen the immune system and lowers blood pressure.

-Eating one cup of strawberries gives you 21% of manganese, which is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

So... enjoy a cup of this powerful red fruit today!

The Health Benefits of Red Bell Peppers

Crunchy and sweet, wonderful in a salad, delicious dipped in hummus...for me, that describes a red bell pepper. Here are several health benefits of this crunchy vegetable.

-Red bell peppers are packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, beta carotene and folic acid, to name a few.

-Red bell peppers contain lycopene, which is a carotene that helps protect against cancer and heart disease.

-Red bell peppers have been shown to prevent blood clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, most likely due to their content of substances such as Vitamin C, capsaicin, and flavonoids.

So... add a crunchy, nutrient-rich red bell pepper to your salad today and feel the health benefits!