This isn't edible..

.. But still a rainbow nonetheless. And this concludes the 10 blog posts for my IT blog assignment! Hope you've enjoyed reading :)

All seven

Even if you might have a favorite color, you mustn't be picky when it comes to food. It is best to eat foods that are differently colored, as they would all have their own nutritional perks. Eating foods of different colors would ensure that you get a variety of nutrients. Besides that, mixing up these foods would add a fun factor to cooking and eating, no matter if you're an adult or a kid. It increases the foods' visual appeal as it looks much more attractive. Who says eating healthy has to be boring?

From salads.. 

To main courses..

To desserts.

Even the boring oatmeal from the first post looks less boring now!

Purple and violet

What it is:
Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments, that may appear red, purple, or blue according to the pH. Anthocyanins are odorless and nearly flavorless, contributing to taste as a moderately astringent sensation. They occur in all tissues of higher plants, including leaves, stem, roots, flowers, and fruits.

What it does:

• Prevents tissue damage with its strong antioxidant properties
• Aids with diabetic patients, and reduces inflammation and bacterial inflammation
• Helps prevent cancer
• Slows down aging and neurological diseases

Examples of foods rich in anthocyanins:

Açaí fruit, eggplants, purple corn, purple cabbages, raspberries, redcurrants, red grapes, cherries, and blood oranges. 

Did you know:

... That anthocyanins are also responsible for the redness in leafs during autumn? When the green chlorophyll in leaves break down, anthocyanins are produced, causing a reddish tint to the leaves.

Green

What it is:
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. It is an extremely important biomolecule and is critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light. Chlorophyll absorbs blue light strongly, followed by red light. However, it is a poor absorber of green and near-green light, hence the green color of chlorophyll-containing tissues.

What it does:

• Chlorophyll does not contain any known nutritional benefits; it is, however, the color of most vegetables. And we all know that, with all their fibre, vitamins and mineral goodness, vegetables are good for you, right? So go ahead and eat your vegetables! 

Examples of foods rich in chlorophyll:

Anything that is green (and is a plant, and edible, of course).

Did you know:

... That chlorophyll is also widely available now as a drink? It is a belief among some that drinking liquid chlorophyll would bring great health benefits. 

Yellow (and white)

What it is:

Anthoxanthins are a type of flavonoid pigments in plants. They are water-soluble pigments which range in color from colorless, white, creamy, to yellow. They are generally whiter in an acid medium and yellower in an alkaline medium, and are very sensitive to minerals and metal ions present in the soil. As with other flavonoids, anthoxanthins are good antioxidants. 

What it does:

• Prevents tissue damage caused by free radicals
• Anti-inflammatory properties ensure healthy cell life
• Helps cut down risks of cancer due to its anti-carcinogenic ability

Examples of foods rich in anthoxanthins:

White fruits and vegetables such as bananas, cauliflowers, cucumbers, mushrooms, soybeans, and yellows ones such as pineapples, mangoes, and yellow bell peppers. 

Did you know:

... That anthoxanthins are often used as food additives? Darkening anthoxanthins with iron is particularly prominent in food products.

Break time!

A little break from all the information. And besides, music is food for the soul :)

Orange

What it is:
Carotenoids are naturally occuring pigments in plants but cannot be synthesized by animals. They generally absorb blue light and give rise to a orange appearance. Animals obtain carotenoids in their diet and employ them in various ways in metabolism, and as carotenoids have vitamin A activity (unlike lycopenes) and are strong antioxidants.

What it does:

• Provides a source of vitamin A
• Protects your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals
• Aids your reproductive system to function properly
• Enhances your immune system
• Significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer

Examples of foods rich with carotenoids:
Orange-colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, papayas, and sweet potatoes are a good source of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and cryptoxanthin, and are available locally.
Egg yolks, salmon, milk, and green vegetables such as spinach also contain beta-carotene.

Did you know:
... That carotenoids commonly play a ornamental feature in animals? The pink color of flamingos and redness of lobsters are all caused by carotenoids. The stronger the presence of the pigment, the more colorful the animal is, which is a plus point for males trying to attract females!

(Another) Red

What it is:

Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical. It is found in red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, red carrots, and watermelons. Although lycopene is chemically a carotene, it differs in that it has no vitamin A activity.

What it does:

• Protects your cells from free radical damage
• As an antioxidant, prevents the oxidation of cholesterol
• Slows the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases
• Helps prevent cancers of the prostrate, pancreas, stomach, breast, cervix, and lung
• Prevents cataracts and age-related macular degeneration

Examples of foods that are rich in lycopene:

Tomato-based products such as ketchup, pasta sauce, puree, tomato soup, and the tomato itself, pink guavas, watermelons, red carrots, and persimmons. 

Did you know:
... That unlike most other nutrients, lycopene is made more available after processing than before? Cooking a tomato would increase its lycopene availability rather than destroy it.

Red

What it is:
Betalains are a class of plant pigments that are derive from red and yellow indoles. They are the cause of the presence of deep-red colors in fruits and vegetables. There are two main types of betalains: betacyanins, a reddish to violet pigment, and betaxanthins, a yellow- or orange-tinged red pigment. The pigment is most obvious in the petals, but also occurs in other parts of the plant, such as in the roots (beets) and stems (swiss chards). Betalains are considerable free radical scavengers, and include powerful antioxidant pigments and phytonutrients.


What it does:

• Protects your body tissues and cells with its antioxidant properties 
• Helps with anti-cancer activities

Examples of foods rich with betalains:
Beets, beetroots, swiss chards, red dragon fruits.

Did you know:
... That plants rich in betalains are also used for dyeing fabrics? Betalain pigments are a very strong and vibrant natural colorant.

Taste the rainbow

As I'm majoring in Food Science & Nutrition, it made sense to have this blog assignment done on what I know and everyone loves best- food. I'm pretty sure everyone has a favorite food; there will be a taste, a smell, or a particular texture of that food which a person would be fond of. Of course, looks and appearances count too.. sometimes too much.

Pretty to the eyes..

... Yummy to the mouth, not?

By now, any health-conscious person would know to stay away from foods that come in unnaturally bright and neon shades. After all, it is an obvious sign that that lots of food coloring was added, and quite probably loaded with artificial flavorings and sweeteners along with it. Gone are the days when, as children, we would be entranced by the brightly-colored candies and snacks and the extreme sweetness that comes with them.

Until the first toothache appears.

So now you're probably thinking about eating healthy. When most people think about healthy food, what comes to mind is usually bland, or boring, maybe both. This is true in a way. Good, wholesome food are usually only minimally processed, and part of that is to preserve the nutrients that the food contains. Additives are added mainly to stabilize the nutrient compounds and to lengthen the food's shelf life, and whether the food is palatable is often of second importance. Also, adding flavorings and sweeteners would be the opposite of producing a healthy food, so that is not done. 

This is good for you, but so boring.

But wait! If you are resigned to the fact that you will have to be content with healthy, but plain boring food,     fret not. Did you know that plants and vegetables that are naturally colored, are in fact, good for you? These nature-made pigments aren't just for aesthetics. Besides giving the plants' their color, these pigments often play an important part in maintaining the plants' growth. Different pigments have different properties, most of which are beneficial to us in various ways when included in our diets.

So read on to find out how eating a rainbow, the healthy way, can be good for you. These colors are natural and pleasing to the eye, with a wider variety of interesting tastes and textures instead of just sugar. And yes, they look a lot less scarier than those multicolored neon cupcakes.