Color can tell us a lot. In some animals, like brightly colored poison dart frogs, it’s a warning signal to keep your distance. But in plants, bright, bold hues send a message: “Nutrition available here!” One of the easiest ways to improve any diet is to consume more brightly colored foods - so long as nature is the one providing the color. In every bag of Sojos, there are three bright orange ingredients that help us deliver the nutrients your dogs needs most: papaya, pumpkin and sweet potato.

Of course, all of those foods probably figure into your own grocery list, too. Learning a little more about what these fantastic ingredientsprovide to your dog might also help you learn why they’re good for your health too.

Papaya: Vitamins, minerals and natural compounds are abundant in this juicy tropical fruit. Antioxidant nutrientslike carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids are champion fighters of free-radicals, which are molecules that cause cell and tissue damage. Folic acid, vitamins E and A, potassium and dietary fiber are also found in papayas, in addition to the enzyme papain, which bolsters protein digestion. All of these elements add up to a super-nutritive treat that protects against cancer, heart disease, chronic diarrhea and allergies.

Pumpkin: The best Jack-o-Lantern medium is not just for Halloween! Pumpkins are an exceptionally rich source of carotenes, for added protection against many cancers. These darkest varieties of winter squash are also a good source of vitamins C and B1, and, on top of that, they provide folic acid, potassium and a healthy dose of dietary fiber. Interestingly, pumpkin is noted to be one of the most effective foods for avoiding diabetes and also helps to ward off heart disease. Its high fiber content makes it ideal for helping pets get over gastrointestinal issuesand maintain healthy stools.

Sweet potato: For being a commonly available ingredient, the sweet potato maintains a bit of mystery - it’s often mistaken for a yam or a cousin of white potatoes, but it’s neither. These nutrient-packed vegetables are an ideal food to incorporate into your dog’s diet for a number of reasons. They’re easier to digest than white potatoes and offer heart-healthy potassium in every serving. The high levels of soluble fiber in sweet potatoes give it another unique benefit; during digestion, it creates a byproduct that helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. That, in turn, improves the body’s response to insulin in the blood stream, which is why sweet potatoes are considered an “anti-diabetic” food.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your pup, keep in mind that colorful food is healthy food.