Mother Natures' cheat sheet
Eating healthy and getting adequate nutrients according to what your body is needing, isn’t actually as difficult as it is often made out to be. In fact, Mother Nature created her own little cheat sheet to help people navigate the natural world of health long before we had Google to turn to. So here’s the simple secret: the colour and the physical appearance of a fruit, vegetable or nut is very often linked to the part of the body or system it is best for. So the old wives tales (that came about before we had the same scientific knowledge we do today) about how walnuts are great for our brains, and how oranges are best for a cold- actually hold true!
The colour red is a big one, being commonly associated with energy and power, it is also identified with the heart and blood. This connection is made through an array of red fruits and vegetables. Strawberries and raspberries are heart shaped, tomatoes have four chambers, and cherries beetroot and blackcurrants are all great for heart muscle and artery health.
Orange and yellow foods are most often connected with the health of the immune/lymphatic systems and their functions. For hundreds of years people have been drinking hot lemon and honey drinks for heavy colds, a trend that is still widely followed today. Carrots. oranges, and pineapples are full of vitamin c and help support the immune/lymphatic system. So, not only can yellow and orange evoke a pleasant cheerful emotion and is associated with sun and youthfulness, it can brighten you from the inside and help your body heal.
We have always been told to eat (or drink our greens) for a good health kick, this is because green foods have great healing power and are said to govern the liver; All green vegetables and fruits are amazingly good for your health. Green has a strong emotional link with harmony and symbolises safety, making it a very balancing colour for us, mentally and physically. Naturally coloured green foods also come with the added bonus of being able help when you are suffering a hangover, so adding greens to your breakfast can go a long way after a big night out.
In completing this food rainbow, we have those of an indigo, violet or purple colour, such as blueberries, plums, eggplants, and purple grapes and carrots. These colours combine the power of red with the tranquillity of blue and, in turn, promote trust, balance, nobility and power. This combination helps to balance one’s own needs and the needs of others by enhancing ones capacity to communicate and cooperate.
This notion of eating an array of foods in an array of colours, goes much further than just encouraging people to get their full 2 and 5 serving each day. By eating foods of varying colour we are giving every part of our bodies adequate nutrition, and, therefore, allowing for better overall health. The response we have to different colours emotionally, connects with what our body needs physically, giving these foods much more power than most of us initially think.