10 Healthiest Red Foods
As a rule, the brighter the color of a food, the more concentrated its nutrition. The bright hue of red foods signals lots of nutrition in every bite. Red fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals, which help turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into usable energy for the body. These foods also contain antioxidants, which protect DNA from oxidative damage and, therefore, prevent disease. Scientists believe there are still thousands of plant phytochemicals, health-promoting plant substances, that have not been identified. Phytochemicals, including some familiar ones found in red foods–flavonoids, lycopene and resveratrol–have been only partially studied for their health benefits.
Tomatoes
Vitamins, minerals and cancer-fighting phytochemicals make many red foods into superfoods. Photo Credit tomatoes image by rafalwit from Fotolia.com
Tomatoes are an all-around superfood. Eaten alone, in salads, or in sauces, they are low-calorie and packed with nutrients. Tomatoes come in a number of shapes, sizes and varieties (and colors). Red tomatoes contain high levels of lycopene, a relative of beta-carotene, which appears to help fight cancers of the esophagus, prostate and stomach. Lycopene is most abundant in cooked tomato products, such as tomato and pizza sauce, and stews, chili and soups. Tomatoes are also rich in potassium, which is important for heart health. In addition, they contain Vitamin C, which helps support skin integrity and immunity.
Red Peppers
Red peppers are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Raw, grilled, steamed or sauteed, peppers add flavor and color to dishes. They contain high levels of potassium, which supports digestive and heart health, as well as Vitamin A, which is key for good vision. These red vegetables are popping with Vitamin C, which again, helps wipe out disease-causing bacteria. Hot red peppers contain capsaicin, a phytochemical that may fight bacteria through its most notable property–heat.
Strawberries
Strawberries contain Vitamin C, potassium and folate. Photo Credit strawberries 1 image by Joelyn Pullano from Fotolia.com
Strawberries are low-calorie and loaded with Vitamin C, potassium and folate. The World Dental website says that strawberries may help whiten teeth. The malic acid in strawberries is an effective dental cleaner when mixed with baking soda.
Apples
Apples are rich in cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. Photo Credit apples image by Dina from Fotolia.com
Apples are another highly versatile and portable food. They can be baked into pies, mixed into salads, added to yogurt and cereal, or eaten whole. Apples are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps bind LDL cholesterol and send it out of the body. This fruit also contains other heart-healthy substances, such as flavonoids, which are thought to combat free-radical damage to artery walls. Apples come in a number of colors and are all nutritious.
Red Kidney Beans
Red kidney beans have fiber, zinc, vitamins and minerals. Photo Credit kidney beans image by cherie from Fotolia.com
A red food that does not immediately come to mind but that still deserves a place on the list is kidney beans. They contain not only large amounts of heart-healthy fiber, but zinc, which supports reproductive health and wound healing. Kidney beans also contain B vitamins, which are key for neurological function. Kidney beans, like their legume cousins, also contain potassium and folate.
Watermelon
Watermelon is loaded with lycopene. Photo Credit watermelon image by ewa kubicka from Fotolia.com
Like tomatoes, watermelon contains cancer-fighting lycopene. It also contains Vitamin A and plenty of Vitamin C. Watermelon is low calorie and can be eaten as a dessert or blended into a rich, sweet juice. Seedless varieties make it easy to enjoy almost anywhere.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are high in potassium.
Photo Credit Pomegranates. Two pieces or halves of pomegranates image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Pomegranates are delicious and, in recent years, have found their way into supermarkets in a variety of products–everything from the pomegranate fruit itself to pomegranate juice to other pomegranate products. Pomegranates have received attention for their high antioxidant content, but their greatest asset may be their high potassium content.
Cranberries
Cranberries are a portable, nutritious food. Photo Credit Cranberry Heart image by DDD from Fotolia.com
The tart cranberry is filled with Vitamin C. Today, dried cranberries have joined the ranks of portable snacks and can be purchased as easily as nuts and raisins. Cranberry juice is notable for its high acidity, which can prevent yeast infections in some women.
Raspberries
Raspberries are rich in fiber. Photo Credit raspberries image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
Fresh raspberries’ greatest asset is their high fiber content. Raspberries also contain considerable quantities of potassium, zinc and niacin. Raspberries are under study for certain phytochemicals that may prevent cancer.
Cherries
Cherries are rich in antioxidants. Photo Credit cherries image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
The deep color of cherries highlights their nutritional content. They contain potassium, calcium and antioxidants. Opt for fresh cherries, however. Avoid the artificially colored sweetened cherries.
Red Food Power
Red foods tend to be high in Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin A and other important nutrients. Photo Credit red strawberry heart image by Allen Penton from Fotolia.com
Many whole foods that are red are naturally low-calorie, low-sodium foods. Two other red foods that are healthful, but do not make the “top ten” list due to certain drawbacks, are red wine and lean red meat.
Red wine contains resveratrol, the phytochemical, which appears to be a powerful, heart-healthy antioxidant. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that healthy women limit alcoholic drinks to one a day, and for men, two a day. While wine contains salubrious substances, alcohol in general seems to raise the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast and oral cancers.
Lean red meat is loaded with iron and protein, which make it a great food choice. Red meat intake, however, should be limited, since excessive intake has been linked to colon cancer.
Red foods showcase the nutritional power of a plant-based diet. When choosing red foods, choose those that are whole foods like fruits, vegetables and legumes, and limit red foods that get their red color through dyes and processing. Read the labels of red chips, packaged snack foods, cakes and other foods that appear unnaturally red. Processed red foods are likely to contain potentially harmful substances as well as other undesirable additives, such as fat, sugar and sodium.
Photo Credit red strawberry heart image by Allen Penton from Fotolia.com
- 4 veggies to never eat:
Cut down a bit of stomach fat every
day by never eating these 4 foods.
biotrust.com - 3 veggies to never eat:
If you never eat these 3 veggies,
You will burn belly fat every day
www.beyonddiet.com - 5 Foods Women Must Avoid
Cut down a bit of stomach fat every
day by never eating these 5 foods.
vfxbody.com - 5 Foods you must not eat
Cut down a bit of stomach fat every
day by never eating these 5 foods.
trimdownclub.com
Related Searches
- Good Protein Foods
- Vitamin K Foods List
- What Foods Have High Iron
- A List of Healthy Foods
- Whole Foods
- High Fiber Foods
LIVESTRONG.COM Weight Loss Tools – All FREE!
Calorie Tracker – Premium Workout Videos – Premium Meal Plans – Community Support
Age
Weight
Height
Goal
Gain 2 pounds per week
Gain 1.5 pounds per week
Gain 1 pound per week
Gain 0.5 pound per week
Maintain my current weight
Lose 0.5 pound per week
Lose 1 pound per week
Lose 1.5 pounds per week
Lose 2 pounds per week
Gender
See My Calorie Goal
LIVESTRONG.COM Most Popular
BEGIN RCP Div
What’s Really Inside Those McDonald’s Chicken…
The Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet
Foodwise, Orange Equals Healthy
The 12 Best “Clean” Dark Chocolate Bars
END RCP Div
References
People Are Reading
gpt slot 300x250_300x600_atf
Begin Rubicon Project Tag Site: Desktop Web – LiveStrong Zone: Livestrong_Food and Drink_ATF Size: Medium Rectangle PLACEMENT: Above the Fold;
Ads by Rubicon Project
End Rubicon Project Tag
Advertisement
Related Searches
Currently Trending
gpt slot 300x250_btf_rem
BEGIN JS TAG – Livestrong 300 ATF < – DO NOT MODIFY TAG START { player: “AP2-US-MarketPlace-NET-SP-Demand-Media~1742115”, owner: “Matomy”, for: “Matomy” }
TAG END { date: 02/10/15 } END TAG
Advertisement
Read These
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
Get the latest tips on diet, excercise and healthy living
MAN WOMAN
OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION
Copyright © 2015 Demand Media, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse any of the products or services that are advertised on the web site. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. Ad Choices