Colour has a direct connection with our health. Colour affects different chakras present in our body, besides influencing our emotions. As far as the question of food is concerned, dieticians advise intake of such foodstuffs that contain the colours of the rainbow, that is, include items of seven different colours.
BLUE
Aghya Chakra
This colour is associated with the agya chakra. It gives us the power of intuition.
Food Items: Jamun (rose apple) and jaitun (olive).
Benefits: Both these fruits possess medicinal value.
VIOLET
Sahasra Chakra
This colour is related to the sahasra chakra which is present in the uppermost part of the body. It represents intelligence.
Food Items: Grapes and different berries, apart from vegetables like brinjal or eggplant.
Benefits: Possess medicinal value.
RED
Mooladhar Chakra
This colour is associated with the mooladhar chakra which constitutes the basis of hunger and sexual desire. The body’s strength and vigour are influenced by it. When people talk of exhaustion, it means that there is an imbalance in their mooladhar chakra.
Food Items: All items are included where red colour predominates, as in tomato, carrot, strawberry, water melon, red capsicum, cherry, apple and pomegranate.
Benefits: Tomato contains lycasin, which improves the texture of the skin and ensures that when the cells are manufactured, no abnormal cells are produced. If any defect does occur in them, then there is the likelihood of cancer occurring. Tomato should be eaten fresh and raw in the form of salad. Apple and pomegranate contain vitamin A and some quantities of iron. Pomegranate has vitamin C too, which improves the ability of the body to fight infection, makes the skin glow and assists in increasing the haemoglobin content of blood.
ORANGE
Swadhishthan Chakra
This colour is a symbol of power and serenity. It is concerned with the body’s second chakra, the swadhisththan chakra. It helps maintain our emotional balance and water content in the body. Mineral salts like sodium and potassium are associated with this chakra and if any imbalance occurs, then tension increases and kidney-related problems surface.
Food Items: Orange, yellow carrot and pumpkin.
Benefits: These contain vitamins like alpha-protein, beta-carotene and hesperidin besides minerals like potassium and chromium. If you suffer from high blood pressure, then intake of these vegetables and fruit will prove beneficial.
YELLOW
Manipur Chakra
This colour conveys reality, hope and new energy. Normally it is concerned with sports and sportspersons and is associated with the manipur chakra which provides physical and mental vigour. It also conveys the condition of the bone marrow.
Food Items: Turmeric, mustard, corn, pineapple, etc.
Benefits: Many benefits accrue from these coloured food items as they increase the body’s power to fight against infection (e.g. turmeric), give vitamin B complex (e.g. corn) and produce digestive juices (bromelain). Asthma patients can benefit by consuming these foodstuffs.
SKY BLUE
Kanth Chakra
The colour of the sky and water is associated with the neelkantha chakra. Two-thirds of our body is composed of water, hence this colour suits us very well.
Food Items: Blue berries.
Benefits: Berries contain polyphenol which protects the body against cancer.
GREEN
Hriday Chakra
The body needs this colour in large amounts and stands for health and balance. It reduces tension of the nerves and provides immediate relief.
Plants are green because they contain chlorophyll, which is their lifeline. This is the reason why green vegetables are extensively used in naturopathy.
| Dietician Tips |
Food Items: Green leafy vegetables, which are primarily consumed as salad and soup.
Benefits: Minerals like vitamins A, B complex and C, calcium (e.g. in spinach and broccoli), etc. are found in abundance in green vegetables. Green tea contains large amounts of phenol, which protects the body against gout and cancer.
Dr Shikha Sharma (The writer is a Dietician)
