By eating fruits and veggies in a variety of colors, we will be able to get all the vitamins ad nutrients that ate needed by our body for optimum health.
When it comes to these colorful foods, blue and purple foods are some of the best. These hues represent a vision of good health.
Reasons Why Blue And Purple Foods Are Good For The Body
Aside from the delicious taste of blue and purple foods, they are nutrient-dense sources of powerful antioxidants.
The resveratrol found in blue and purple foods, such as eggplants, can terminate cancer cells. It is an antioxidant with anti-aging and disease-preventing effects. Aside from this, resveratrol also helps maintain heart health by reducing inflammation in the body and lowering down bad cholesterol.
Blue foods also contain anthocyanin, an antioxidant that has naturally occurring polyphenols. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties that are helpful at reducing someone’s risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases as well as boosting brain health and mopping up free radicals and soothing inflammation in the body. The darker the fruit or vegetable, the more anthocyanins it contains.
In a survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), data revealed that adults who eat purple and blue fruits and vegetables have reduced the risk for both high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind); they are also less likely to be overweight.
An example of a superfood that contains a high amount of anthocyanin is blueberries (with 15 different anthocyanins).
In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, results revealed that regular consumption of blueberries may mitigate neurodegeneration of the brain, thereby slowing down the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, in a separate study found in the journal “Experimental Gerontology” in its February 2012 issue, the result of an experiment demonstrated that the extract of blueberries has the ability to extend the mean lifespan of fruit flies by 10 percent. It increases the expression of genes that increased lifespan and decreasing the expression of genes that sped up the aging process.
The Journal “Antioxidants” published in its December 2016 issue a study showing how blueberries contribute to lowering down insulin resistance in humans. High blood sugars have been associated with numerous complications like kidney disease and heart disease.
Health Benefits Of Eating Purple Foods
- Lowering blood pressure
- Protecting against certain forms of cancer
- Protecting against diabetes
- Protect against digestive problems
- Contributing to overall health and fighting off disease-causing free radicals
- Increasing good cholesterol levels (HLD)
- Activate healthy immune cells that help fight off cold and flu viruses Supporting brain health
- Supporting immune health
Aside from blueberries, other blue and purple foods that offer a wide range of health benefits are as follows:
- Purple cabbage
- Eggplant
- Purple grapes
- Elderberries
- Black currants
- Raisins
- Plums
- Figs
We can add these foods in our homemade salads, smoothies, and whipped toppings. Also, pairing them up with other colored foods like tomatoes and capsicum will provide our body with wholesome nutrition.