Purple Reign

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Purple superfoods like cauliflower provide key vitamins for your diet.

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.

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Concord Grapes

Concord grapes have thick deep purple skin and crunchy seeds that are rich in anthocyanins. They also contain manganese, vitamin K, potassium, certain B vitamins and vitamin C. 

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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." 

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Eggplant

Eggplant is a low-calorie treat that has over a dozen kinds of antioxidants, registered dietician Cynthia Sass writes for Shape.com. She notes that in a study of animals, their cholesterol levels dropped after being fed eggplant juice.

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Plums


This juicy snack is a great source of vitamins A and C that support your immune system. Dried plums, or prunes, are full of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium, Sass writes.

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