A simple yet profound approach to exceptional health and balance is found in a diet based on color. Strikingly hued fare brims with phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. The natural color of food also impacts emotions and world view. Red is associated with our sense of place and security. If you feel disconnected, impatient or ungrounded, you may need more red foods in the diet. Lower back pain, poor digestion, sciatica and immune disorders also indicate a deficiency of these foods as well.

Root of the matter

Eating influences us not only physically but also emotionally. The food we choose at any given moment shapes how we view ourselves and the world, which in turn governs health. If our diet is clean and rich with nutrients, our emotional state tends to be stable and balanced - thereby encouraging a healthy immune system and smooth digestion along with optimum absorption.

According to Ayurvedic thought, red colored foods ground and stabilize our emotions while supporting productivity and connection to those around us. They also inspire patience, fortitude and a nonjudgmental attitude. Physically, red foods soothe the lower body issues of back pain and sciatica. And do not forget the science behind these vibrant edibles. Valuable nutrients such as immune boosting vitamins A and C, potassium and iron along with anti-cancer phytochemicals like resveratrol, lycopene, quercetin and ellagic acid are found in naturally red food.

Take for example a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food that illustrates the protective anti-tumor activity of tomatoes. When mice were given either isolated lycopene or tomato paste for three days, the researchers found the tomato paste had much stronger antimutagenic activity compared to corresponding doses of pure lycopene. As observed by the team:

"Results indicate that lycopene has antimutagenic effects, although the effects are lower than that of tomato puree, which contains a complex mixture of bioactive phytochemicals. The antimutagenic effect is connected with the chemoprotective role of lycopene, tomatoes, and tomato products in the prevention of carcinogenesis."

Including an abundance of red foods in your daily diet will certainly protect against the risk of serious disease. But red foods can also help cultivate a peaceful and secure outlook. If you feel unsafe in the world, disconnected or unproductive, consuming a higher concentration of these foods will encourage emotional stability and trust. Good choices include cherries, guava, pink grapefruit, tomatoes, red bell pepper, raspberries, red grapes, strawberries, pink lady apples, watermelon, blood orange, red chard, radishes, pomegranate, red pears and plums, red potatoes, red wine, hibiscus, rooibos tea and red clover.

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