In recent years and with the popularity of nutritional documentaries such as “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead,” we have come to realize just how amazing green vegetables and leaves are for us. While green leafy vegetables have a vast array of health benefits, we should not forget the healing potential of the other colors in the fruit and vegetable rainbow.

Yellow fruits and vegetables are packed with carotenoids and bioflavonoids which function as antioxidants, as well as large amounts of Vitamin C. Yellow fruits and vegetables often tend to be overlooked. You know, the ones we throw in the salad just to make it look pretty. You will be sure to incorporate these sunny colored superfoods into your diet once you learn just how good they are for you!

Here are a few of the most nutrition-packed yellow fruits and veggies you should stock up on next time you’re in the grocery store:

The Many Health Benefits of Lemons

The humble lemon may just be top of the yellow fruit chain when it comes to a true antioxidant punch. It is such an affordable fruit, and lemons are teeming with citric acid, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin and limonene – what a mouthful! These amazing nutrients strengthen the immune system by fighting off infections.

Lemon, squeezed in warm water, is an effective liver cleanser, meaning; it aids in removing toxins from the body. Lemons may even protect our bodies against cancer by killing cancer cells.  This incredible information should have you on the way to your supermarket right now!

Pineapples, One of the Worlds Healthiest Foods

You might consider ordering double pineapple Hawaiian pizza on your next “cheat day” after you hear what this fruit is all about.

Pineapples are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in our bodies. Vitamin A protects against macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

Vitamin C in pineapples protects against colds and viruses while the calcium, phosphorous and magnesium work together to strengthen bones and protect against gum disease. Because pineapples have anti-inflammatory properties, they are great for people suffering from painful arthritis as well as protecting against carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bromelain promotes healthy digestive systems by breaking down large proteins into smaller digestible units. Pineapples are a wonderful fruit to consume during a cold or sinus infection as Bromelain is a natural cough suppressant as well as being known for loosening mucus.

Health Benefits of Bananas You Might Not Know

If you ever find yourself stranded on a desert island, you better hope for bananas. This nutrient rich fruit would be enough to get you by until you are rescued.

Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and potassium. In fact, just one banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium! Potassium is essential in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. These miracle fruits also contain tryptophan and serotonin, sometimes referred to as nature’s own antidepressants. These have a calming and mood-boosting effect.

When researchers conducted a study on 40,000 male professionals over a four year period to determine the effect of diet on health, potassium showed its true colors. It was proven that individuals who follow a diet rich in potassium laden foods had a reduced risk of stroke due to its ability to lower blood pressure. Potassium in bananas also ensures a healthy cardiovascular system.

That’s not all! Bananas protect against painful stomach ulcers by activating the cells that line the stomach. How? They aid in producing a thicker mucous membrane as well as eliminating bacteria in the stomach, usually a direct cause of ulcers. Those monkeys are onto something big I’d say.

Yellow Squash Nutrition Facts

Okay, so it might not have been entirely true when your grandma told you to eat your squash for curly hair. She wasn’t lying though when she said, “eat your squash for bright healthy eyes!” Yellow squash is abundant in lutein and beta-carotene, which protects against macular degeneration (resulting in vision loss).

Yellow squash is also rich in potassium and magnesium to promote heart health and healthy blood pressure levels.  Folate in yellow squash removes homocysteine in our blood, which is a harmful metabolic by-product that has been linked to heart attack and stroke.

Yellow squash is also rich in manganese, which is effective in treating muscle cramps, particularly PMS cramps. It has been proven that women who regularly consume yellow squash experience fewer PMS symptoms and less painful period pain.

These are just a few of the yellow fruits and vegetables and their wonderful health benefits. Other examples are yellow figs, yellow apples, yellow kiwi, plantains, yellow peppers, just to name a few.  One thing brightly-colored fruits and vegetables have in common is they are teeming with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These protect against heart attacks, strokes, degenerative diseases and cancer. Nature is a wonderful natural healer and yellow fruits and vegetables are a very good place to start.