Nutrition … Importance of Fruits and Veggies

Main Takeaways

1. Fruits and veggies should be the top priority in your foundational nutritional game plan. They provide key vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants.

2. All of the above help combat stress — athletes stress their bodies by training, competing and traveling — and maximize performance.

3. Color matters! The more variety you can get on your plate, the better. Dark, leafy greens promote healthy musculature; reds — berries, cherries, peppers and such — are for circulation; yellows, such as pineapple, help improve brain function; and orange aids tissue recovery.

4. Don’t forget your whites! Mushrooms, garlic, the inside of that bright red or green apple … you want a strong immune system, right?

5. Fruits and veggies consumed in their natural form are best. Canned, in their own juice, is your second-best option. Third, drinking their juices.