Beyond the Rainbow…

By now we have all heard about how important it is to fill our plates with a rainbow of colors but do we think about how important the absence of color is, too?  Adding white fruits and vegetables can cut one’s risk of stroke in half!  When thinking white, make sure to think under the skin, too.  Consider adding bananas, cauliflower, onions, garlic, cucumbers to your daily diet.  But– pears and apples are also super-stars in this department.  In a 10 year study of 20,000 men and women, for every 25 grams of “white” foods eaten, risk stroke was reduced by 9%.  When you see how apples size up, we know where the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” comes from!

Medium apple – 180 grams

Banana – 115 grams

1 cup of cauliflower – 100 grams

10 slices of cucumber – 70 grams

Apples are also shown to help lose weight and to ward off colon cancer.  Keep the skin on to boost nutrient and all important fiber, intake.  How did Adam and Eve get in so much trouble with this little gift from Mother Nature?  Forbidden fruit?  I think quite the contrary.

Related articles

• Apple day – how apples lower cholesterol? (healthybodymind.wordpress.com)
• Study: An Apple a Day Keeps Stroke at Bay (healthland.time.com)
• White fruits and veggies might lower stroke risk (ctv.ca)