Body, soil and soul - grow a rainbow

‘Eat the rainbow’ – that’s the nutritional advice of health experts; in other words, making sure you include a wide range of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables in your diet means you’ll naturally be consuming a variety of vitamins and nutrients to keep our bodies in good condition and help prevent illness.

Red fruit and vegetables (such as tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries) contain lycopene which gives it this colour.  It’s thought to have antioxidant properties and is reported to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.  Beta-carotene is contained in yellow and orange produce (like peppers and sweet potato) and this is converted to vitamin A in the body, helping us to make hormones and keeping our eyes healthy – hence the notion that eating carrots can help you see in the dark.

Green veg provides us with a whole host of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and many are rich in iron and fibre.  Blue or purple varieties are also beneficial as they’re high in nitrates which may be able to reduce blood pressure.

Pale vegetables like onions and garlic have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and mushrooms contain Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. Meanwhile purple plant-based foods contain polyphenols that are thought to help lower the risk of certain diseases, including cancer.

Luckily for gardeners, we have the option to grow all kinds of fruit and vegetables, in any colours we choose, providing us with the full rainbow of colours and flavours, far beyond what the supermarkets have to offer. Not only that but with mere minutes from plot to plate, we can be sure our food is as fresh as it can possibly be, and therefore still packed with the nutrients we need.