ORANGE: Eat the Rainbow

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Orange foods are best known for their beta carotene content (vitamin A) and their role in eye health, however there are plenty of other health benefits making orange food worth your time.

Examples of orange foods: mango, carrot, squash, ginger, turmeric, sweet potato, oranges, tangerine, papaya, orange peppers, apricots, peaches, kumquats

Many orange foods contain:

Potassium - help to keep your fluids in balance, your heart functioning properly and aid muscle contraction (apricots, squash, oranges, cantaloupe, etc))

Vitamin C - aids in collagen production (joints and skin), supports your immune system and has antioxidant properties (mango, papaya, oranges, etc)

Vitamin A - used for skin and eye cell growth and plays a role in maintenance of the heart, lung and eye tissues. (sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, apricots)

Curcuminoids - found in turmeric, has antioxidant, anti inflammatory and anti cancer properties

Many colorful foods, like the orange foods listed above, make great additions to your pre or post workout snacks. Cantaloupe is both juicy and filled with potassium; making for a great part of a post workout snack providing hydration, glucose and electrolytes. Oranges are similar in that they are nutrient packed, a glucose source and hydrating, another great addition to your post workout snack.

Recipes:

Turmeric: Kitchari

Orange peppers: Stuffed Peppers

Papaya: Papaya Lassi with Cardamom

Oranges: Avocado and Citrus “Ceviche”

Carrots: Pork and Carrots with Chermoula