Red is an extremely prominent color.  It is the first color in the rainbow, is the brightest color (and longest wavelength) in the visible light spectrum, and is associated with courage, vitality, and strength.  It's everywhere!  Did you know that NASA scientists use red light therapy on their wounded astronauts to increase healing and tissue growth for skin and organs?  It works on plants, too.

 

So why talk about the color red on a site about healthy living and skin care?

 

Aside from the healing benefits of red lights, red foods also provide health benefits.  They contain lycopene, a phytochemical, which may help reduce your risk of certain cancers including lung, cervical, and prostate.  Lycopene also has antioxidant properties, can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, soothe joints, and keep your gastrointestinal tract healthy and regular.  Tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, and papaya are just some of the delicious foods that are rich in lycopene.  Eating a diet rich in tomatoes has also been proven to decrease ultraviolet sun damage by 30%!

 

In addition, red foods such as cranberries can help your urinary tract health and prevent or ease the symptoms of infections, and apples have been proven to lower a woman's risk of heart disease.

 

Eat up!