Purple Reign
Foods in this color group offer powerful nutritious value
The late musical artist Prince would be proud, as his favorite color can also be an indicator that you are eating foods with a powerful punch of health benefits.
Purple fruits and vegetables are rich in anthocyanins, which are natural plant pigments that provide foods with their unique color, registered dietitian Katherine Brooking writes for WebMD. Studies have shown that anthocyanins may benefit brain health, help to lower inflammation, and fight cancer and heart disease.
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In addition to anthocyanins, purple produce offers other key vitamins and nutrients. Here are a few purple powerhouses that nutritionists recommend adding to your dinner plate.
Purple Cauliflower
Cauliflower has powerful cancer-fighting properties, and the purple variety is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium and B vitamins.
Purple Asparagus
This is similar in taste to white and green asparagus, but is also loaded with vitamin C, according to Brooking. The purple variety also contains two primary anthocyanins and has strong antioxidant scores.
Purple Potatoes
Research shows that purple potatoes have two to four times the antioxidants of their white counterparts, Brooking says. "One study found that people who ate two servings of purple potatoes daily lowered their diastolic blood pressure by 4.3 percent and the systolic pressure decreased by 3.5 percent without gaining any weight."