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The Benefits of Eating Orange
Week two of our Eat the Rainbow Challenge, time to focus on the vibrant orange fruits and vegetables. Orange plants are known for their beta-carotene, an antioxidant that promotes eye health, brain health, and can prevent the skin from sun damage.
Think Spiderman Eyes
When kids eat carrots and sweet potatoes, I say they will have Spiderman eyes. Orange plants have beta carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A, which promotes night vision. Vitamin A can neutralize free radicals in the body, and is crucial in building a healthy immune system. Vit A is fat soluble which means it only occurs naturally in fats. Therefore, if you eat low fat foods, or are watching your fat intake, you could be deficient in Vit A.
Vitamin C is also prevalent in many orange fruits and vegetables. Vit A and Vit C are star players when building a healthy immune system. The combination is also beneficial when rebuilding collagen in the skin, as in recovering from a sun burn.
From fresh oranges to roasted sweet potato, I am sure there is an orange fruit and vegetable for everyone to love. Choose from the list here and join our Eat the Rainbow Challenge - orange.
Orange Fruits and Vegetables
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Guava
- Loquat
- Kumquats
- Mandarins
- Mango
- Nectarines
- Orange Bell Peppers
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Persimmon
- Peach
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tangelo
- Tangerines
- Winter Squash
As with lycopene from the red foods, beta carotene is also more easily absorbed when cooked. However, Vit C is delicate and can be slightly damaged when cooked. Thus, it is important to eat a combination of raw and cooked orange vegetables to get the best of both worlds.
Orange is the vibrant color of creativity in the world of Chakra energy, it is centered around the hips and the "center of human creation". So let loose, have a good time, and don't be surprised if all of the orange foods make you want to get up and shake your bootie.
Here are some of my fun and favorite orange recipes to get you started. Please share your orange recipes below in the comments or at least tell us your favorite orange fruit or vegetable.