The orange mantra

We don't only need to add greens to improve our health there are other colours, which are equally good. So it’s not only about spinach, fenugreek, coriander, etc.

For a good health, there is a whole clan of equally strong produce in other colours in the plant kingdom that we tend to overlook.

This year let’s turn the focus on orange and amber produce, which are abundant with carotenoids – the fierce pigments that add the shades of orange and yellow to your food.

Beta-carotene or vitamin A as they are popularly known are not only good for your eyes but are one of your most powerful tools to live a healthy and disease-free life.

Beta-carotenoids are multitasking in looking after your health. They literally gobble up free radicals that attack your body.

Also known as the invaders of healthy cells, free radicals are the culprits in degenerative diseases , cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis and chronic ailments for example asthma bronchitis sinus and the common cold and flu.

They are the broomsticks, cleaning up clogged arteries that can lead to heart disease and stroke. These powerful shades of oranges not only filter outs the UV light that harms your eyes; they also improve hair and skin.

So let’s add some of the top food sources of beta-carotenes. The list starts with pumpkin, followed by sweet potato, orange, yam, carrots, dried apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe.

If you want eagle eyes, that will last your entire life, just boost up your beta-carotene by eating a cup of any of the above daily to keep your eyes healthy and prevent macular degeneration.

Annihilate cancer cells by going orange as new research points out that it is better to eat natural found orange pigment in carrots, pumpkins, and cantaloupes than eating a supplement.

They protect the cell membrane that surrounds each of your and fends off free radicals that multiply cancer cells.

Eight-pack abs and a surfboard stomach is the way to go today and this can be achieved when you eat foods that are high in carotenoids.

They help put off excess fat storage around the belly. Thinner people tend to have high blood levels of carotenoids, thus if you want to burn away the belly fat in your body, add beta-carotene abundantly in your diet.

It is important to know that even though orange fruits and vegetables are very healthy, accessing their goodness is hard, as they live behind a tough cell wall.

Crush, blend or chop them as this will help burst those rigid cell walls and helps to free more carotenoids.

This very colour is your nutrient booster and is as powerful as your flu shot. Simply add them on your daily plate for a healthy life.