Paul Reynolds, A.P., D.O.M.
Each day when you are standing in front of your open refrigerator contemplating what to make for dinner, consider adding in all the colors of the rainbow. The phyto-chemicals found in colorful fruits, vegetables and herbs provide healthy and balanced nourishment to your meal. Your vital organs and tissues are literally fed by these nutrient-dense foods. The typical American diet is lacking this type of balanced nutrition, causing a myriad of health problems.
Food is the fuel, or medicine, on which our bodies run, so what you put at the end of your fork is more powerful medicine than anything you will find at the bottom of a pill bottle. Blood is life giving to organs, so in every modality of medicine, it’s all about increasing blood circulation in the body. Blood flow helps the body to heal itself, and food provides the nutrients that your cells and tissues need to do this, creating the environment for natural healing and restoration.
Red Fruit and Vegetables
Contain nutrients such as lycopene, elegiac acid, quercetin, and hesperidin, to name a few. These nutrients reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower blood pressure, reduce tumor growth and LDL cholesterol levels, scavenge harmful free-radicals, and support joint tissue in arthritis cases. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, (TCM), these foods are used to benefit the heart and promote blood circulation throughout the body.
Orange and Yellow Fruit and Vegetables
Contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C. These nutrients reduce age-related macular degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy muscles. In TCM, these foods are used to benefit the spleen and pancreas for maintaining overall mental and physical strength.
Green Fruit and Vegetables
Contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and beta-carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity. In TCM, these foods are used to benefit the liver and eyes, help with detoxification, and promote strong ligaments and tendons.
food gallery
Blue and Purple Fruit and Vegetables
Contain lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, vitamin C, fiber, flavonoids, elegiac acid, and quercetin. Similar to the previous nutrients, these support retinal health, lower LDL cholesterol, boost immune system activity, support healthy digestion, improve calcium and other mineral absorption, fight inflammation, reduce tumor growth, act as an anti-carcinogens in the digestive tract and limit the activity of cancer cells. In TCM, these foods are used to benefit the kidneys to promote a strong immune system, strong teeth and bones. In this category, seaweed is by far the most nutrient-rich food source.
White Fruit and Vegetables
Contain nutrients such as beta-glucans, EGCG, SDG, and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. These nutrients also activate natural killer B and T cells, reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancer, and balance hormone levels, reducing the risk of hormone-related cancers. In TCM, these foods are used to benefit the lungs which are the only major organ exposed to the environment. They play an enormous role in immune function and are responsible for the maintenance of healthy skin.
Because this nutritional support is so vital for health, I’ve been teaching a free community cooking class called Food as Medicine, at Nature’s Food Patch Market and Café in Clearwater since 2012. It’s held monthly on the last Wednesday of each month. NFP supplies free groceries and students enjoy samples of everything cooked that evening. For information about the 20+ free monthly classes NFP offers for the community, please visit naturesfoodpatch.com.
Paul Reynolds, A.P., D.O.M.
Specializes in Herbal/Food Therapy, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. Utilizing the methods of Traditional Chinese Herbology, Acupuncture/Acupressure, Tui-Na (Medical Massage) Cupping and Medicinal Meals.
