Colours can really liven up our whole look and if we get it right, make us look fabulous from the outside. But what about the inside?

Next time you eat a meal see how many colours are on your plate of food. Are you sticking to two or three - mainly white, beige and a speckle of green or does your plate often resemble a rainbow? If the latter, you’re on track, get colour in your diet and you'll have bundles of energy and an enviable glow. Nutritionist, Vicky Warr tells you how your diet should be a variety of colourful Superfoods for a radiance look on the inside and out.

POWER RED makes a major impact in Spring/Summer this year. Fiery and powerful…these red foods provide fabulous benefits for your body.
TOMATOES are a rich source of Vitamin C and Lycopene, which helps to reduce the risk of cancer.  Cooking tomatoes releases more ot the key nutrients so try them grilled.

CHILLIES also has anti-cancer properties, their pungent component, Capsaicin, increases your metabolic rate and excites one's mood! Great for your respiratory system. Go for Chillies of the slender, long variety, this way, you’ll also reap the benefits of more vitamins A and C, folic acid, potassium and fibre helping boost your immune system.

STRAWBERRIES are admirable cleansers and purifiers of your body’s systems.
If you have skin problems they will cleanse and regenerate. Their high iron content means will provide energy and help combat fatigue. Best eaten on their own or before a meal.

TRUE BLUE. The colour of contemplation and a colour, which can calm and help you concentrate wonderfully. It mimics the quality of the Super food – the Blueberry.

BLUEBERRIES are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, including anti-oxidants (particularly anthocyanidins), which increase the absorption of vitamin C. They can also help lower cholesterol as well as boosting your skin’s radiance.

EVER GREEN. This season's green foods makes everyone look and feel good.
AVOCADOS are full of healthy mono-unsaturated fats, fibre and high in Vitamin E – a great anti-ageing food to help prevent wrinkles and degenerative diseases. Add lemon juice and some prawns for a great appetizer.

BASIL. Sweet basil gives us a taste of the sunny south and Mediterranean climes. Its bright green, succulent and tender leaves provide a tonic to calm the nervous system (great before a hot date!) plus it is also a great natural tranquiliser if you are feeling frazzled and anxious. Basil goes perfectly with the flavours of tomatoes, garlic, aubergines and courgettes. A well-known recipe using basil, and lots of it, is pesto, a sauce for pasta or for chicken and fish.

YELLOW radiance
Yellow - from lemon to mustard – looks very sophisticated and finding the right yellow food will help lift your spirits. So too can the wonderful citrus fruit, LEMONS. They have twice as much vitamin C as oranges as well as Vitamin B for radiant skin. Also rich in bioflavonoids, eating citrus fruits may aid in reducing risk of cancer, heart disease, hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease.  

Another Yellow food, SWEETCORN is great for boosting energy and helping with digestion and elimination of toxins, so you can lose that puffy look on the skin! Sweet corn contains fibre – a high fibre diet is lower in calories and poor quality fats and is protective against some Western cancers. Eat Organic and Corn-on-the Cob is delicious cooked on the BBQ.

BLACK. The essential item in your wardrobe and your fridge! 
THE BLACKBERRY contains Vitamins E and C, which are highly beneficial to the health of your vital organ, the heart! The nutrients and vitamins in this berry are also highly recommended for good circulation and a glowing skin. The berries are delicious with cooking apples in a crumble and the combination of pectin found in apples will ensure you are removing intestinal toxins and cleansing both the body and skin.

BROWN. A true classic providing warm, natural tones to the body!
BROWN TROUT can be hard to source as they are farmed on a very small scale but it's worth the trouble. The fish is really delicious grilled and is an excellent source of Vitamin D and B, Zinc and Iron, great if you are feeling lethargic giving a great boost of energy. 

Vicky Warr has developed Nutrition Programmes for the Busy Executive, Busy Mums and Busy Families. She is Nutrition and Fitness Coach and director of BEEZ KNEEZ. www.beez-kneez.co.uk. Contact: 020 8 354 1583 or info@beez-kneez.co.uk

More Style Information