In ancient Greece, Arabia, Italy and some of England, astrology was considered a foundation and an important training element in medical practice.  The study of the health and well-being of the body associated and connected to the position of stars, planets and zodiac energies is called Medical astrology or astrological medicine (iatromathematics).  Part art and part science, this study links physical conditions, such as musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, neurological, etc., to one’s natal birth chart and planetary transits in the sky.  Thus, when we look at the matter of our PERSONAL health and nutrition for our body, we can look to our astrological birth chart, which, when aligned with the Artist’s colour wheel, provides us insight into how we can BOOST our vitality through nutrients and food!

What is the Artist’s colour wheel?  The Artist’s colour wheel is a circular tool that describes the relationship of colours to one another.  A colour is the visual perception of light as a result of how something emits, reflects, absorbs or combines wavelengths of light. The Artist’s colour wheel is used to show how light can be separated in colours, to determine the harmony between colours, and to understand the relationship between colours and emotion. 

The Artist’s colour wheel is divided into 12 sections:
– the Primary colours of red, yellow, and blue
– the Secondary colours of violet, orange, and green
– and the Tertiary colours of blue-violet, red-violet, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, and blue-green.

In connection with food, colours can indicate nutritional value, freshness and the health benefits of the food to the consumer.  For example, a white fruit or vegetable can aid your heart and help lower cholesterol, whereas a yellow-orange fruit or vegetable can boost your immune system and enhance vision.  All plants get their colours from bioactive compounds they produce called Phytochemicals, also known as phytonutrients.  Phytochemicals are created in plants via a complex series of metabolic processes to either aid the plant in growth or defend it against environmental stressors like pests, pathogens and UV radiation from the sun.  Yet, phytochemicals are not just beneficial for the plants – they have health benefits for us as well, such as the protection against environmental toxins and prevention of cancer or cardiovascular diseases. The plants with the most vibrant colours are the richest in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

When aligned with the zodiac signs in astrology, each colour on the Artist’s colour wheel connects to a zodiac energy. In medical astrology, these colours can then be aligned with foods that support the vitality of the linked zodiac energies. This builds a framework for each native sun or ascendent/rising sign energy on what to eat when feeling out of balance or in need of life-force and vigor.  The foods that build this Zodiac colour wheel of nutritional vitality are fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, and herbs.

During each upcoming Zodiac season this year, we will take a deeper look into the corresponding colours of food that increase nutritional health and wellness for that Zodiac energy, the health benefits of those foods and a few tips on how to incorporate them into your meals with balance.

Reference Articles

1. Alicia Blando, MD, Conscious Connection Online Magazine, Medical Astrology: How Your Birthday Can Reveal Medical Conditions. 2023.
2. Laura Phillips, Ph.D, Yale University Online Exhibitions, Medical Astrology: Science, Art, and Influence in early-modern Europe. 2023.
3. Wikipedia: Medical Astrology. Updated July 2024.
4. Vishakha, Teravarna: Why Should Artists Know About Color Wheel? August 2024.
5. DecoArt, Color Theory Basics: The Color Wheel. October 2021.
6. Rush Education: Eat a Colourful Diet.
7. Wei-Lun Hung, Chia-Cheng Wei, et al. National Library of Medicine, Major Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Health Benefits and Extraction Method. January 2023.
8. Yan Yang, Wenhua Ling. Science Direct. The Journal of Nutrition: Health Benefits and Future Research of Phytochemicals: A Literature Review. Volume 155, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 87-101.
9. Terence Woo, BS Gina Plessas, et al. University of California, Davis, Department of Nutrition: Nutrition & Health Info Sheets for Consumers – Phytochemicals. 2016.