Hello Lovely Friend,
“Eat your greens”. It’s probably something we have all heard many times growing up. Without a doubt green foods are wonderfully nourishing for our bodies; they are nutrient-dense and excellent for alkalizing the body (read more about alkalizing in a previous article here and green algaes here)……BUT did you know about the incredible health benefits of blue and purple foods?
Last month I came down with flu like symptoms and my whole body ached. The thought of getting sick made me see red….and purple and blue! I loaded myself with these colourful fruits and vegetables and superfoods and low and behold I woke up the next morning and felt completely normal. Perhaps this was just a coincidence but I have to say the old pinky purple antioxidant smoothie has been seen a lot lately in our house.
Blue and Purple (and in some cases hues of red and black) foods are antioxidant powerhouses and are bursting with essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. New research suggests they may in fact be richer in antioxidants and vital flavonoids than the beloved greens.
The Magic Ingredient
In addition to the essential phytonutrients, blue and purple foods contain a compound called anthocyanin (which I have discussed in prior articles about black rice and raw cacao). Anthocyanin is responsible for the colour pigment in many food and flowers – the colour can range from light pink to dark indigo.
How does it work?
Anthocyanin protects against cell damage caused by free radicals (a natural anti-aging compound) making it a powerful antioxidant. The American Cancer society recommends eating colourful fruits and vegetables (particularly purple foods) due to their cancer fighting properties.
I know you’ve heard me talk about this before – ORAC stands of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and is a unit measurement for antioxidants. It is believed that foods with the highest ORAC value will help to neutralise free radicals that cause damage to cells.
Powerful Purple and Blue Foods
There is a wonderful range of purple and blue foods that can easily be added to one’s everyday diet. Some of the most nutrient dense ones are as follows:
You may also be interested in trying out some of these Nourishing Hub Recipes:
