Everyone knows that food can make you feel good, but did you also know that colour can do the same?
Chromotherapy or colour therapy is the study of how colour affects mood and there's a that indicates it does actually work. That plus the thousands of years that colour therapy has been used in Egypt, Greece, China and India.
There are other health benefits to '' as well. The more colourful the food we eat, the more likely we are to get the full spectrum of nutrition into our weary bodies. It works a bit like this:
Red - tomatoes, strawberries and red capsicum brim with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce cancer risk and increase heart health.
Orange / Yellow - carotenoids give carrots, oranges, pumpkin and sweet potatoes their colour. The most famous of all the carotenoids is beta-carotene, which keeps your eyes looking good.
Green - leafy greens, limes and broccoli are all packed with phytochemicals that have protective, anti-cancer properties.
Blue / Purple - beets, blueberries, red cabbage and eggplants are the blue heroes, coloured by a pigment called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin has antioxidant properties that protect your cells from damage.
So, if you need a little mood boost, or you just want to brighten someone's day with a meal that embraces the rainbow, here's your ticket.
Red goes so well with perfectly browned. Source: Adam Liaw
This tomato and egg dish is one of Asia's most well-known comfort foods. Source: Alana Dimou
READ MORE
Rohingya tomato soup
A Lebanese dish that speaks of home and happiness. Source: Alan Benson
For optimal mental health, it's best to keep an orange cake on hand at all times. Source: Alan Benson
READ MORE
Hazelnut, rose & orange cake
Carrots and sweet potato double down for a worthy orange performance. Source: Danielle Abou Karam
This is a Southern soul food dish that is simple to make and so satisfying. Source: Mark Roper
The golden spice turmeric will brighten up any dish. Source: Leanne Kitchen and Antony Suvalko
Old-fashioned creamed spinach is given a very-French makeover. Source: Plum Books / Jeremy Simons
Broccoli teams up with peas for a green fest we're here for. Source: Plum Books / Jeremy Simons
Now *that's* how you say good morning. Source: Adam Liaw
These blue pea flower dumplings can thank anthocyanin for their beauty. Source: Sharyn Cairns
Sticky mustikkapiiraat are a cross between a bread roll and a pie. Which sounds like such a good idea! Source: Brett Stevens
This mega beetroot burger is all the reasons why eating the rainbow is a good idea. Source: Donal's Cook, Eat, Burn!
Which neatly brings us back to the top of the rainbow, ready to go around again. Happy eating!
Pop goes the dinner
Pan-seared duck with cherries
