Everyday Importance of Colors
Most people have a preferred color when it comes to making choices. It varies from person to person and some people have a lucky color which they never let go off. I had a friend who swears by red and everything from his car to his room paint to his shirt is red or shades of red. For some people color is a matter of luck and they feel that things never go wrong when they wear that particular color. Colors in general are fascinating and we cannot deny the fact that sometimes the color changes our mood. A bright colored room is generally considered to give a more energetic atmosphere rather than a dull one.
Impact of colors on food
But you might be surprised to know that the color of our food impacts us as much as the taste or calories present in our food do. Every color has its own distinct feature we don’t realize generally but these colors can alter our food habits massively. Scientists have gone to the extent of saying “people who wish to lose weight should use a blue colored plate”, as the color blue is a unappetizer and so is black. A variety of colors in your plate is necessary for a proper and balanced diet.
Colors and their meanings
A great source of vitamins, they also provide minerals and fiber. Some green foods like spinach contain lutein and zeaxanthin, compounds from a group of antioxidants known as carotenoids that can protect aging eyes from developing cataracts and macular degeneration. They may also help protect against blockages of the carotid arteries in the neck. Cabbages help in reducing the risk of cancer.
Our mind interprets any green food as healthy food and there are generally no qualms when it comes to eating green foods.This is because ‘safe’ foods used to be green, such as lettuce, apples and cucumber. It was quickly established that most green foods could be eaten without a big risk of death.
Sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes, apricots and other yellow or orange fruits and vegetables are also rich in carotenoids and other antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress. Orange fruits and vegetables also give you vitamin C and folate, needed to reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent certain birth defects.
Yellow food is very appetite simulating and it is the reason why most restaurants have yellow lights, paint and decorations. It gives a very homely atmosphere and encourages us to eat more.
Tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit are among the red pigmented fruits and vegetables that contain lycopene. This powerful antioxidant helps prevent the development of heart disease and some types of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. The lycopene in tomatoes is more available to the body when you cook them, especially in a little olive oil.
Red food (as well as the color red itself) is also appetite stimulating, creating feelings of intimacy and energy. If you are having a problem with your appetite, bring in some red into your kitchen!
Garlic and onions contain allicin, a phytochemical that may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Raw garlic is a potent antibiotic that is especially active against fungal infections.
Blue food is generally considered to be a no-no on the food plate. Traditionally we have never been exposed to much of blue colored food and there are no blue leafy vegetables or blue meats. The human mind is naturally averse to blue colored food.Million years ago, when our earliest ancestors were foraging for food, blue, purple and black were “color warning signs” of potentially lethal food.
Despite the natural aversion, there are certain blue foods which are very good for us. Blueberries are especially potent: a half cup provides antioxidant activity equivalent to five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli. Blueberries also give you almost three grams of fiber per half-cup serving. It comes with the advantage of delicious taste.
Color is very closely related with the appeal of food. In a research, subjects were served food in dark and were asked to eat their food in complete darkness. They said that the food lacked something which they couldn’t explain. For a person with eyesight, food is recognized by its appearance and the look of the food is very important in savoring its taste. Most of the foods in market lose out even before they are tasted because of its appearance. A platter of food with proper dressing, and even distribution of attractive colors is likely to have more takers than the one with monotonous appearance.
The McDonalds packaging is considered by many as the best because of its clever use of colors. Both red and yellow are appetizing colors and they are also very friendly colors, which helps in increasing the consumer’s appetite. Most restaurants use yellow and red as their packaging colors because of its natural appeal as a food appetizer.
So the next time you decide to cook or serve or eat make sure you use the proper colors because the human brain is like a little kid and it is bound to get influenced by appearances. Make your food colorful and in case you are a person who can’t resist hunting the fridge for food try putting a blue bulb inside your fridge. It is likely to reduce you craving for food!