TRY THESE 5 HEALTHY PURPLE FOODS

Thanks to their high concentration of powerful plant compounds, foods with a natural purple hue offer a wide array of health benefits. Try these 5 healthy purple foods.

Thanks to their high concentration of powerful plant compounds, foods with a natural purple hue offer a wide array of health benefits. Though the color purple is most often associated with fruits, there are many types of purple-colored foods to choose from, including vegetables and grains. Try these 5 healthy purple foods.

1.Blackberries

Blackberries are among healthy purple foods – google image

Blackberries are among the most well-known purple fruits. These juicy berries are packed with nutrition and potent anthocyanin pigments.

Anthocyanins are a type of polyphenol compound that gives foods their purple, blue, or red colors. They’re found in high concentrations in the other fruits, vegetables, and grains on this list.

They act as strong antioxidants in your body, protecting your cells from damage and reducing inflammation that may otherwise lead to negative health outcomes.

Anthocyanins promote your health in various ways. Eating anthocyanin-rich foods like blackberries may protect against many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease

Blackberries are also loaded with other strong polyphenol antioxidants, as well as fiber and micronutrients, including vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. All these nutrients make blackberries a highly nutritious choice for a tasty, sweet treat

2.Purple sweet potatoes

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Purple Sweet Potatoes are among healthy purple foods – google image

They are commonly eaten on the Japanese island of Okinawa, which is home to an exceptionally healthy elderly population – with a large number over the age of 100, and rates of dementia reported to be up to 50% lower than in the West. Some scientists think that the large quantities of purple sweet potato in their diet plays a key role in keeping their bodies and brains healthy well into old age. However, to date, there are not many studies into the health benefits of the purple sweet potato, and it’s impossible to say that the Okinawan’s longevity is down to this one food alone.

3.Purple cabbage

Purple cabbage is among healthy purple foods – google image

All varieties of cabbage are exceptionally nutritious. However, purple cabbage — also known as red cabbage — contains anthocyanins, which boost the health-promoting properties of this cruciferous vegetable even higher

Purple cabbage is loaded with fiber, provitamin A, and vitamin C. It provides potent anti-inflammatory effects thanks to the high levels of powerful plant compounds found in its highly pigmented leaves

Purple cabbage can be used in the same way as green cabbage and makes an excellent addition to slaws, stews, and stir-fries.

4.Passion fruit

Passion fruit is among healthy purple foods – google image

Passiflora edulis is a tropical vine cultivated for its ability to produce delicious fruits known as passion fruit. Ripe passion fruits have a yellow or purple rind that covers sweet, soft flesh filled with crunchy seeds.

Passion fruit contains a special polyphenol antioxidant called piceatannol, which has been shown to have several remarkable health-promoting properties and may be especially beneficial for skin health.

For example, a test-tube study found that piceatannol isolated from passion fruit protected skin cells from sun damage. Furthermore, a study in 32 women with dry skin demonstrated that taking 5 mg of piceatannol for 8 weeks increased skin moisture

5.Red dragon fruit

Red dragon fruit is among healthy purple foods – google image

Red dragon fruit has a bright, reddish-purple flesh dotted with tiny, black, edible seeds. This tropical fruit has the texture of a kiwi, and its taste is often described as mildly sweet.

Dragon fruits are low in calories yet packed with fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium, making them a nutritious addition to fruit salads and other sweet dishes

Red dragon fruits also contain a high concentration of protective antioxidants.

Test-tube research suggests that extract from red dragon fruit may have the ability to stop the growth of certain types of human cancer cells, including breast cancer, and may induce cancer cell death

Purple-pigmented foods offer a host of health benefits and add color to your diet.

Incorporating purple foods like blackberries, Redbor kale, acai berries, forbidden rice, purple carrots, and elderberries into your meal plan can ensure you are consuming a powerful dose of anthocyanin antioxidants and a variety of important nutrients.

Try these 5 healthy purple foods to take advantage of their health-promoting properties.

Source: Healthline, BBCgoodfood