Healthy Eating Five Fruit and Vegetables Daily
Spain's New Health Incentive is to Eat Five Colours a Day
Apr 2, 2009
Spanish national papers are spilling the beans on this Mediterranean country that is losing the battle to preserve its healthy Mediterranean diet. Scare stories about the nation's health are increasing, as are the obesity rates among children. But it's not only the obesity the government is worried about. Children are developing the diseases of the middle aged. It seems that the Mediterranean Diet is dead and fast food is all the rage - to the detriment of the nation’s health.
Twelve years ago, barely a processed cereal was found on the supermarket shelves and the freezers in the large supermarkets numbered one. A ready-made meal or frozen pizza were unheard of but nowadays fridges, freezers and ready-to-eat or warm-up meals abound.
The Mediterranean diet of healthy seasonal fresh foods is dying rapidly as is the health of the younger population.
The good news is that the Colegio de Médicos or Medical Association in Malaga is planning an awareness campaign to promote wholesome nutrition in the form of a “Five Colours a Day” regime, launching in July 2009. Each month thereafter will have a special day promoting this healthy eating campaign. The five colours a day program aims to beef up consumption of fruits and vegetables that are recognised for their health promoting properties.
Eat Five Fruits and Veg a Day - Five Colours a Day
The campaign is not only aimed at raising awareness to the importance of eating five fruit or veg a day. Eating a variety of colours is the key.
So get all the colours of the rainbow in the fridge and on your plate. Each colour represents a different group of nutrients aimed at promoting great health and helping specific ailments
- Red - promotes cardiovascular health and helps to protect against cancer an other ailments - look to red peppers, tomatoes and strawberries.
- White - help to prevent diabetes and keep cholesterol levels down so eat cauliflower and chirimoyas.
- Orange/Peach/Yellow - a great resource for those anti-oxidants and vitamins - eat up those apricots, peaches, oranges, pineapple etc.
- Green - help to balance the hormones and a lot more - choose those avocados, kiwis, spinach, kale and artichokes.
- Blue/Violet - are a good aid to keep your heart healthy, and help to control your blood pressure amongst others - get experimenting with aubergines, blue berries, blackberries figs and plums.
