While most Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, a new report from Nutrilite Health Institute shows the color of fruits and vegetables eaten can be as important as the quantity.

Eight in 10 Americans are missing out on the health benefits of a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, resulting in a phytonutrient gap with potential health consequences, according to America’s Phytonutrient Report. “Many phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants that can help fight the damage caused to our bodies’ cells over time that can lead to premature aging and disease,” said Stephen Fortmann, MD, director of the Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University. “The fact that Americans are falling short in phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables measured in the report is concerning.”

America’s Phytonutrient Report was conducted by Exponent on behalf of Nutrilite, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and USDA data that captures what Americans eat daily. The 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 reds, yellows, greens and other rich colors. Americans have a phytonutrient gap in every color category.

Findings showed the biggest phytonutrient gap was found in the blue/purple fruit and vegetable category where 88% of Americans fall short. Americans are doing a little better on getting phytonutrients found in green fruits and vegetables—69% fall short. Seventy-eight percent of Americans are falling short in the red, 86% in white and 79% in orange/yellow.

“America’s Phytonutrient Report illustrates that we need to think about more than just quantity when it comes to our fruits and vegetables,” said Amy Hendel, a registered physician assistant and health/wellness expert working with the Nutrilite brand on a new campaign to educate people about phytonutrients and the importance of eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. “A daily dose of color could result in positive health benefits.”

By looking at phytonutrient intakes among Americans who meet their daily fruit and vegetable recommendations, the report identified “prudent intake” levels for 14 select phytonutrients in the absence of government guidelines for phytonutrients. The gap was then determined by comparing the “prudent intake” levels with intakes of average Americans. The select phytonutrients analyzed within each color category of America’s Phytonutrient Report included EGCG, isothiocyanate, lutein/zeaxanthin and isoflavones for green, lycopene and ellagic acid for red, allicin and quercetin for white, anthocyanidins and resveratrol for purple/blue, and alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, hesperitin and beta-cryptoxanthin for yellow/orange.