The 6 Kinds of Benefits of Red Fruits & Vegetables

Red symbolises love, courage, health, wealth, passion and also power. Well, this bright colour on fruits and vegetables also brings their own meaning as well. Different colours of fruits and vegetables are packed with their own kind of nutrients making each of them important to be consumed on a daily basis. But this Chinese New Year season, let’s focus on the ravishing RED hues!

It's generally a great boost of nutrients for your skin, eyes, heart and immune system. Like the cliche ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, there are lots of other benefits yet to be revealed of red fruits and vegetables.

As there are many choices of red fruits and vegetables, they each bring something different to the table:

Antioxidants (Lycopene & Anthocyanins)

Soak up damaging free radicals from harming the DNA in cells, hence acting as an important compound to fight cancer. Reducing risk of heart diseases, stroke and also macular degeneration.

Fruits and vegetables: Tomatoes, Watermelon, Cherries and Grapefruit

Magnesium

Involved in transporting other electrolytes, such as calcium and potassium, into cells for a healthy heart. Electrolytes are all-important for nerve signals and the muscle contractions of a normal heartbeat. Hence, it is necessary for maintaining a steady heartbeat and normal blood pressure.Healthy magnesium levels are key to nerve function, muscle contraction, heartbeat, and healthy bones.

Fruits and vegetables: Grapefruit, Tomato

Quercetin

The most abundant flavonoids and easily found in diet. Plays an important role in improving inflammation response, regulating blood pressure level, improving exercise performance and blood sugar management. A compound that is also responsible to fight colds, flus, and allergies.

Fruits and vegetables: Red apple, Cherries, Red grapes

Folate & Iron

Folate & Iron

Two main minerals for pregnant mothers and humans generally. Folate and iron help your body produce and maintain healthy red blood cells. If the body does not make enough of these, a person can develop anemia, leading to fatigue, weakness, and a pale complexion.

As folate is also important for the synthesis and repair of DNA, hence deficiency of these during pregnancy can lead to neural tube irregularities, such as spina bifida and anencephaly (baby born without part of brain and skull).

Fruits and vegetables: Beetroot, Red spinach

Vitamin A (Carotenoid)

Two particular carotenoids; Lutein and Zeaxanthin are important for eye health. They reduce the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people aged 60 and older). Vitamin A also helps in increasing the eye’s ability to function in low-light conditions and is needed for the health of the salivary glands and mucosal tissues of the mouth.

Fruits and vegetables: Watermelon, Red capsicum, Tomato

Vitamin C

An important nutrient for strengthening your immune system and helps with skin, bones, and teeth. Lack of this vitamin can cause bleeding gums, loosened teeth, dryness of mouth and eyes, loss of hair and dry itchy skin.

Fruits and vegetables: Bell pepper, Tomato

There are many ways to sneak in these healthy red fruits and vegetables to your stomach. One of them is through juicing! Here’s some nutritious juicing recipe for you to try: