Ever wondered why nature has such a flair for colour? From red chillies to yellow mangoes and black grapes, our fruits and veggies are all bright, colourful, and full of life. But according to Gut Health and Ayurveda Coach Dimple Jangda, who was a guest in creator Gunjan Taneja's show, these colours are not just for show; they are part of a secret language between nature and your body.
Red heals
“Nature is very clever,” says Jangda. “If you eat the colour of the thing that is lacking in your body, then you get well.” For instance, if you are anaemic or battling low haemoglobin, your plate should look red. “Beetroot, carrot, spinach, red amaranth leaves, pomegranate, black grapes,” she lists. These foods are not just nutrient-dense; they are in red to give you better blood health and balanced hormones.
White bloats
And when it comes to weight loss, Jangda insists white is not right. “We take out all white-coloured foods from their diet,” she says, referring to white rice, wheat, maida, sugar, salt, and dairy. “Immediately that person starts losing weight.” It is not just what you eat, but the shade of what you eat.
Three taste groups of fruits
Turns out, every fruit is dropping hints not just in colour but taste too. Ayurveda categorises fruits into three taste groups: sweet, sour, and astringent. Each of these flavours plays a role in how your body feels and functions.
Sweet fruits like mango, banana, sitaphal, and chiku are rich and buttery, ideal for building tissues and boosting energy. Sour ones like lemon, oranges, and grapefruit help with digestion and cut through heaviness. But the real saviours? The astringents.
Why astringent is the best
“Astringent means when you eat black grapes, it dries up in your mouth,” explains Jangda. “You feel a very strange dryness.” That dry-mouthed feeling you get from apples, berries, cherries, and amla? It is not bad; it is magic. These fruits help tighten tissue, reduce water retention, and are really good for glowing skin.
“If you see supermodels,” she says, “they eat blueberries, cranberries, raspberries... a bowl of berries in the morning.” Because nothing says ‘runway ready’ like a little natural astringency.
