Eat Your Colors Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bioactive plant substances

Phytochemicals are nonnutritive (in other words, they have no calories and do not produce energy) plant chemicals that contain disease-preventing compounds. Hundreds of different phytochemicals have been discovered, and a single serving of a fruit or vegetable may contain dozens.

Answer: Cancer

Cancer is a disease of abnormal cellular reproduction, so it stands to reason that phytochemicals, which strengthen cell walls and prevent cell damage from oxidation, could play an important part in its prevention. It is estimated that two-thirds of current cancer cases are preventable and that ONE-THIRD could be prevented by changes to diet alone.

Answer: Celery

Cruciferous vegetables contain potent cancer fighters called INDOLES and SULFORAPHANES, among at least four others. Some people find that the smell of these compounds in their veggies (cauliflower is also a member of this group, as are cabbage and bok choy) takes some getting used to, but the health benefits are obviously worth it. Celery, while not a cruciferious veggie, contains the phytochemical BUTYL PHTALIDE, which can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Answer: Processing tomatoes by canning them or making them into ketchup

Processing tomatoes increases lycopene's bioavailability, as does adding a small amount of fat, preferably a "good fat" like olive oil. In addition to tomato products like sauce, paste, juice, and ketchup, lycopene is also found in other red foods like guava, rosehips, watermelon and pink grapefruit. Make sure you buy the reddest red fruits you can find for the most lycopene.

Answer: Eat your WHITE-GREEN

The wonderful Allium family contains members like onions, garlic, leeks, chives, shallots, and scallions. In addition to making food delicious, the white-green group has health benefits such as preventing heart disease (by thinning blood a little, thus making clots less likely to form in blood vessels), lowering cholesterol (especially "bad" or LDL cholesterol), and preventing many cancers.

Answer: Anthocyanins

ANTHOCYANINS (over 300 have been discovered!) are abundant in dozens of fruits and are powerful antioxidants. They are particularly useful in reducing cholesterol. LIMONOIDS are also phytochemicals. They are found in citrus and help protect against cancer. Plant estrogens are found in soy, and flax is a good source of lignans, both of which are being studied as cancer preventers.

Answer: True

You've probably heard about the health benefits of red wine, which contains the potent antioxidant power of FLAVONOIDS, ANTHOCYANINS, and RESVERATROL. If you don't want the alcohol, grape juice confers the same benefits. Always choose juice with as little added sugar as possible.

Answer: Macular degeneration

Lutein is found in the retina of the eye and its antioxidant function there helps prevent macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness.
Lutein occurs in mangoes, papayas, oranges, kiwi, peaches, squash, peas, lima beans, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, lettuce, prunes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and honeydew melon. (Many carotenoids, of which there are more than 600 known, are found in green as well as yellow/orange plant sources, and some are even found in animals...a carotenoid is responsible for the pink color of salmon and shrimp.)
(info from www.genox.com)

Answer: All are correct

Antioxidant activity from root beer, licorice, and Indian food? Absolutely. In fact, some foods you might not have thought of as particularly healthy, such as tea, parsley, ginger, and caraway, are busily repairing cell damage and preventing disease every time we enjoy them.

Answer: Choose a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables every day

Unfortunately, the typical Western diet is sadly lacking in phytochemicals for the simple reason that most of us don't eat enough fruit and vegetables. The US Department of Agriculture sponsors a "Five a Day for Good Health" program to encourage this vital dietary change, especially among children.

In Okinawa, where a traditional diet includes as many as TEN servings of vegetables a day, people live to be centenarians with great regularity, although this may not be the only contributory factor.