Have you heard? Ugly is the new healthy. You know not to judge a book by its cover, but have you ever turned your nose up at a tomato that looked a little distorted? How about that zucchini with the weird bumps? I canβt say Iβd blame you. Who wouldnβt reach for the pretty produce over the fruits and veggies that look like they got beaten up in the back of the grocery store?
Iβm excited to share with you that itβs whatβs on the inside that matters most. Choosing foods packed with healthy nutrients is key to achieving and maintaining good health.
Making informed nutritional choices is one of the best andΒ easiest ways to lead a healthier, happier, and more energetic life.
When it comes to picking your produce, itβs helpful to remember thatΒ looks can be deceiving. I encourage you to keep this in mind every time you reach for some fresh fruit or vegetables. Those big beautiful vegetables that look shiny and perfect are more likely to have been treated with pesticides and other health-ruining chemicals.
Itβs time to look past appearances and show those ugly veggies some love!
Hannah Grant, the first female chef of the Grand Tour Cycling Race and author ofΒ The Grand Tour Cookbook, explains why β when it comes to picking your produce β the weirder, the better:
βThe uglier your produce, the greater the chance it hasnβt been genetically modified or sprayed with pesticides. And that means better nutrition.β
Thatβs right. Those uglier, smaller veggies that youβd typically pass on are better for your health. These are the items that are likely free of pesticides and genetic modification. So while theyβre not the prettiest-looking foods in the bins,Β theyβre your best bet for getting the nutrition needed to keep you healthierΒ and make you even more beautiful from the inside out.
So skip over the perfect-looking produce and take home the ugly stuff! Show those ugly veggies and fruits some love. Itβs an easy and sustainable way to make good nutrition a daily habit, avoid health-killing chemicals, and up yourΒ #HealthHeroΒ game.
The light in me honors the light in you. Namaste.
Dr. Nandi
Parthaβs Rx
- Appreciate whatβs on the inside.Β Looks arenβt everything, so focus on the nutrients within your food and the health benefits you stand to gain from enjoying them.
- Shop the perimeter.Β The healthiest foods are along the perimeter of your grocery store. Itβs where youβll find the whole and natural (and ugly!) foods that help you stay healthy and energetic. Keep your trips up and down those middle aisles to a minimum.
- Prevent disease.Β Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are the most potentΒ cancer-fighting foods. Bring them home and add them to your meals to protect yourself from cell-damaging free radicals and lower your risk of colon cancer.
- Make your voice heard.Β Every year, foods that donβt meet beauty standards get discarded and wind up in landfills β producing tons of food waste. Ask your local retailers to start carrying imperfect produce. The more consumers speak up, the more likely your favorite stores will be to start providing them.
