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The Rainbow of Health
The Bible tells us that
God gave the world the rainbow as a sign that He would
never again send floods to destroy the inhabitants of
the world. Throughout the world the rainbow goes by
many names. Some of the names are: the flashing arch,
bow of Indra, little window in the sky, bride of the
rain, arch of Saint Martin, bridge of the Holy Spirit,
crown of Saint Bernard, and the girdle of God.
The rainbow is beautiful to look at
and a refreshing symbol to behold after a good rain.
It is also a reminder of God’s love for us.
Perhaps we can also use the rainbow
as a health reminder. The colors of the rainbow can
be a reminder of the colors of the fruits and vegetables
that we should eat on a daily basis for optimum health.
The blue and purple of the rainbow can
remind us to eat purple grapes, blueberries, blackberries,
elderberries, and black currents. These contain anthocyanins,
which can reduce the risks of cancer, heart attack,
diabetic complications, age-related memory loss, and
Alzheimer’s disease. They can also help control
high blood pressure.
Many of the dark purple foods contain
phenolics, which may slow the effects of aging and are
powerful antioxidants. This group includes prunes, plums,
and raisins.
The green color in the rainbow can remind
us to eat green peas, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, broccoli,
green lettuces, kale, spinach, and leafy greens. These
contain lutein, which helps maintain good vision and
reduces the risks of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Another green group includes cabbage,
broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, Swiss
chard, cauliflower, watercress, and turnips. These contain
indoles, which are good for reducing the risks of cancer
and tumor growth in cancer patients.
The yellow orange colors of the rainbow
can remind us of foods that contain bioflavonoids, which
work with vitamin C to reduce the risk of heart attack
and cancer. They also have powerful antioxidants that
help maintain strong bones, healthy skin, and good vision.
The foods in this group include tangerines, oranges,
lemons, grapefruit, peaches, apricots, nectarines, papaya,
pineapple, pears, yellow raisins, and yellow peppers.
The dark orange of the rainbow can remind
us to eat pumpkin, apricots, peaches, carrots, sweet
potatoes, mangoes, butternut squash, and cantaloupes.
These contain beta-carotene, which can boost the immune
system, is a powerful antioxidant, helps maintain good
vision, and reduces the risks of heart attacks and cancer.
The red band of the rainbow can remind
us to eat tomato based products, watermelon, pink grapefruit,
and guava. These foods contain lycopene and can reduce
the risk of breast, skin, and prostrate cancer. They
also reduce the risk of heart attack.
Other good foods in the red band are
red onion, kidney beans, raspberries, cherries, strawberries,
beets, cranberries, red apples (with the skin), and
red cabbage. These contain anthocyanins, which are powerful
antioxidants. They can help control high blood pressure
and can reduce the risks of cancer, Alzheimer’s
disease, heart attack, and diabetes complications.
A healthy goal is to eat at least five
servings of fruits and vegetables every day. It would
be good to try to include fruits and vegetables from
the different colors of the rainbow. There are many
other fruits and vegetables that are not listed here.
Include as many of them as possible for added variety
and even better health.
So the next time you see a rainbow,
let the rainbow’s colors remind you to eat the
colorful fruits and vegetables that will help your body
to be healthier.
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