Leafy greens, citrus fruits and broccoli aren’t really that important, are they?
 
You bet they are!
 
Maybe you haven’t given much thought to eating fruits and veggies or maybe you love to eat these nutritious foods! Regardless, eating an assortment of fibrous, vitamin rich, colorful foods are so important to our health. In fact, eating the right foods, mainly plant-based including fruits and vegetables, can be the ultimate source of healing, energy and sustained health.
 
Let’s dive in a little deeper!
 
The power of fruits and vegetables is truly amazing. Proper nutrition can build immunity, ward off disease, fight cancer, improve gut health, aid in hormone balance and boost energy.
 
Maybe you’re ready to add some more color and nutrition to your diet, so you may be asking, where do I go from here?
 
Firstly, eat real food and add more plants. This means avoiding sugar, processed and fried foods, etc., as harmful bacteria and yeast feast off of sugar. So, what foods should we be actively seeking out at the store?
 
It’s all about the color! Strive for eating whole, unprocessed, top- quality, plant- based foods. Most of the shopping trip will be spent in the produce section, followed by making way around the outer perimeter of the store, avoiding the middle isles of “junk food”.

Below are a few foods listed by health goal to help guide you.
 
Some fruits and veggies for immunity building and disease prevention include:

• Red Bell Peppers
• Strawberries (Did you know strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges?)
• Broccoli
• Citrus Fruits
• Dark Leafy Greens (Kale remains king of the forest!)
• Nuts and Seeds

 Some fruits and veggies for hormone balance include:

• Broccoli
• Sweet potatoes
• Seaweed
• Spinach
• Bell peppers (all colors- red, yellow & orange!)
• Kale
• avocados

 Some fruits and veggies for improving gut health include:

• Oranges
• Kale (wow yet again, Kale for the win!)
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Strawberries

In addition to loading up on fruits and veggies, next, add in some nuts and seeds (walnuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews, chia seeds), nut butters, beans, whole grains (oats, quinoa, rice) and plant based milks. Oh and water, lots of water! Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is vital for our bodies to function optimally.
 
Ask yourself: How colorful was your lunch today? Did you include fruits and veggies in every meal? Did most of my plate include plant-based foods? Maybe it’s time to help our systems along in the daily battles against the sneaky pathogens we are exposed to. We could not emphasize enough the power that fruits and veggies have on our health.
 
So, we challenge you: how colorful can you make your plate? Have some fun, try new recipes, include the kids in making dinner and teach them the art of smoothie making. You’d be surprised how many different varieties of fruits and veggies you can add to make a flavorful combo. If you decide to add in some more plant-based foods to your diets, we know you too will start to experience their amazing benefits!