BUENA PARK, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine living in a beige home, driving a beige car and wearing almost nothing but beige clothes. Few people would tolerate such a colorless lifestyle but a recent study shows that most Americans eat a diet seriously lacking a broad spectrum of color.

Eight out of 10 Americans, on average, are missing out on the health benefits of a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, according to America's Phytonutrient Report, released by the Nutrilite Health Institute. According to this report, the color of fruits and veggies eaten can be as important as the quantity.

America's Phytonutrient Report looked at fruit and vegetable consumption in five color categories, specifically green, red, white, blue/purple and yellow/orange. The health benefits of phytonutrients are believed to come from the compounds that give these foods their vibrant colors. Americans have a phytonutrient gap in every color category.

Is Seattle Getting Its Daily Dose of Color?

According to a recent on-line survey of nearly 500 Seattle-area residents, commissioned on behalf of NUTRILITE:

• More than two-thirds (68%) of Seattle-area residents report that they eat fewer fruits and veggies than the minimum of five servings per day recommended by USDA government guidelines. The majority of residents (65%) report that they eat just 1 - 3 servings of fruits and veggies on a typical day.
• While more than 95% of Seattle residents have heard the health buzzword "antioxidants," just 21% have heard of "phytonutrients," the natural plant nutrients that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant color and science suggests may offer benefits to health.
• Yellow/orange fruits like bananas, melon and oranges comprise the color group of fruits that most Seattle residents, 40.8%, report eating the most of in a typical week. While green vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers and peas are the veggie color that most Seattle residents, 84%, report eating the most of in a typical week.
• In addition to a general gap in servings, residents indicate that individual color groups also pose challenges. Blue/purple is the color group of vegetables that most Seattle residents, more than half (51.7%), report struggling with in a typical week. White is the color group of fruits that most (38.4%) identified as the least eaten in a typical week.

NUTRILITE is Helping Seattle Get Its Daily Dose of Color

The NUTRILITE nutritional supplement brand is helping Seattle close its phytonutrient gap and make healthy lifestyle choices. Look for NUTRILITE at:

• Safeco Field for Seattle Mariners home games on June 18 - 24.
• The Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, Thursday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on race day, Saturday, June 26.

At these events:

• Seattle residents can switch to a better multivitamin by bringing in their current multivitamin bottle and swapping it for a FREE full-size bottle of NUTRILITE® Daily Multivitamin. (90-day supply.) The swap will be available at Safeco Field only June 18 - 20 and at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon all three dates.
• Get your "passport" stamped as you walk through the NUTRILITE Mobile Brand Experience and be entered to win a $299 NUTRILITE prize package.
• Place an order on-site and walk away with a FREE NUTRILITE water bottle.

Westlake Plaza, June 18 through July 2. Visitors will have a chance to enter to win a $299 NUTRILITE prize package. Those who place an order on-site will walk away with a FREE NUTRILITE water bottle.

Visit www.nutrilite.com/color for more information on America's Phytonutrient Report and report extensions, Heart Health by Color and Bone Health by Color, as well as the health benefits of phytonutrients and practical tips to help you get your daily dose of color.

SOURCE NUTRILITE