The question we must ask ourselves, are we getting and eating enough colours in our daily food intake?

A diet that consists of colours, is described as a way of eating known as the Rainbow diet, because it is a mix of different types of vegetables and fruits that are red, green, yellow and orange just like the colours of the rainbow or Vibgyor.

We all know that health is wealth, to lead a healthy lifestyle, eating all the colours of food, enables one to get the required nutrients and vitamins, essential for your the optimal functioning of the body.

How does it function?

All types of foods get their colours from chemicals known as phytochemicals that helps the body to fight diseases. Different coloured food provides the nutrients that are essential for your growth and wellbeing.

The colour of the food can tell you a lot about how they contribute to the nutritional needs of your body.

1. Onions, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, dates etc. are some of the examples of fruits and vegetables that are white or brown in colour. These food types are beneficial to us, they help to keep the heart function normally, enables the muscles in our body to work properly, keeps the bones healthy and protects us from getting cancer.
2. Fruits and vegetables that fall in the category of the colour purple, including brinjal, prunes, figs, purple grapes and blueberries, to name a few, have many nutrients essential for your health, they can slow down the ageing process, prevent cell damage, reduce the risks of stroke and heart disease.
3. Green grapes, spinach, broccoli, kiwi fruit, beans and lettuce are examples of green colour fruits and vegetables, they contain chlorophyll that boosts the immune system, energizes and remove the impurities from the body and lowers the risk of getting cancer.
4. Foods that come under the yellow and orange colour category like mangoes, orange, carrots, papaya and lemon, helps to keep us healthy by improving eyesight and reducing vision problems, lowers the risk of suffering from heart disease and improves the flow of blood to the body.
5. The colour red is found in many fruits and vegetables such as apple, strawberry, tomato, watermelon, cherry and beetroot, they contain a pigment called lycopene and are known to help the body to fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease and prevent  damage caused to the skin due to exposure to the sun.

The dietary needs can vary from individual to individual, there is no universal standard, at the same time, one must not overlook the importance of including different fruits, vegetables and dairy products in your diet.

Although colour is not the only criteria, the key to good health is a colorful diet, it is not only pleasing to look at, it motivates us to eat healthy.

The rainbow diet is not just about colour, it can make a difference to our daily lives, if we can exercise discipline and self control, cut down on junk food and give the body the essential nutrients that it needs to lead a better quality of life.