Top 4 Health Benefits of Purple Foods
By
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
Posted July 9, 2022
If I mention the word “health food,” what color comes to mind?
I’m guessing it’s green.
It’s true that there are plenty of healthy foods that come in this color.
But for the full benefits of a healthy diet, you can’t limit the color foods you eat to green… you have to eat the entire rainbow.
You see, the compounds that give fruit and vegetables their color are the same compounds that are responsible for many of their health benefits.
When you eat a variety of colors, you can be sure you’re getting a variety of beneficial nutrients for your body.
And one of the most beneficial colors of all is purple.
The compounds that produce the deep purple, red, and blue pigments in foods like eggplant, blackberries, blueberries, and beets are called anthocyanins.
Their health benefits are just as robust as their color.
Anthocyanins are part of a larger family of plant compounds called flavonoids that have powerful antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants fight free radicals that would otherwise damage your cells.
Studies have shown that anthocyanins are good for your heart, brain, and more. Take a look at these key benefits.
- They lower blood pressure.
A review of 66 studies concluded that anthocyanins help reduce blood pressure.
- They reduce the risk of heart disease.
When plaque builds up in your arteries, it leads to a hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. This can contribute to increased blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
Anthocyanins work in numerous ways to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, including reducing blood pressure, cholesterol in the arteries, and inflammation.
- Anthocyanins improve brain function.
Studies have shown that anthocyanins increase blood flow in areas of the brain associated with memory, language, and attention.
In one study, cherry juice (which contains lots of anthocyanins) improved speech and memory in adults over 70.
- Lastly, anthocyanins can help fight cancer.
Studies show that these compounds have numerous anti-cancer activities, like blocking DNA damage, stopping cancer cell growth, and preventing tumors from becoming malignant.
While you can take an anthocyanin supplement, I prefer to get them the way nature intended.
Here’s a short list of foods high in anthocyanins:
- Black elderberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Black and red grapes
- Pomegranates
- Red cabbage
- Purple cauliflower
- Red radishes
- Black beans
- Wine
P.S. You probably know by now that vitamin C is a powerhouse for your immune system. But vitamin C is no one-trick pony. Click here to read about the top health benefits of vitamin C.
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
Are You Getting Enough Vitamin H?
Some vitamins are household names by now. If I mention nutrients like vitamin D, C, or B12, not only have you likely heard of them, but you probably also know a little about why they’re good for you. You might already have them in your “medicine” cabinet. However, I’m guessing you’ve never heard of vitamin...
“Bearded Tooth” Fungus Regrows Brain Cells?!
There’s a rare mushroom that goes by MANY names… But we should add the nickname “Smart Mushroom” to the list because of its ability to support cognitive health and brain function. Previous studies have shown this fungus can help improve cognitive function, protect against memory loss, and reduce symptoms of depression. In a recent study,...
Tackle BOTH Sleep and Mood Problems
I love using unconventional methods to treat common problems. And by unconventional, I mean anything other than what the mainstream would tell you to do. Take mood and sleep problems, for example. Too many people get a prescription and are sent on their merry way. I call that “getting written off.” Instead, I’ve found a...
Top 5 Joint Pain Supplements
If you’re living with joint pain, you don’t want Band-Aids… you want solutions. Typically, it occurs as a result of two underlying problems: Inflammation Cartilage breakdown If you address those two issues, you can get to the ROOT of joint pain. But traditional heavy-duty painkillers often come with unwanted side effects… Some inexpensive supplements can...
HIDDEN Heart Attack Trigger (Beware)
At first glance, my home state of Arizona and Hawaii have little in common. But both share an important distinction. Neither participates in the risky practice of daylight saving time (DST). It’s just one of the many reasons I love living here. The rest of the country shifted their clocks forward by an hour nearly...
Is This Bathroom Habit Triggering CANCER?
It’s always a good idea to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals. This can include things like ditching the Roundup to kill weeds in your yard or replacing your bathroom cleaner with natural solutions like vinegar and essential oils. But as you’re making the switch to a “cleaner” lifestyle, I’m guessing you never considered tossing...
Can Mouthwash STOP Arthritis Flare-ups?
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you’ll do anything to prevent a flare-up. These painful episodes can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, overexertion—or sometimes, seemingly nothing at all. Usually, the quickest way to get to the other side is to calm out-of-control inflammation, bringing it under control as quickly as possible. But what’s CAUSING...
Are YOU Activating Alzheimer’s Genes?
If there was an on/off switch for Alzheimer’s disease, you’d want to ensure it stayed in the OFF position, right? Well, it turns out you DO have one. In fact, it’s not just one but HUNDREDS. Because these Alzheimer’s switches come in the form of your GENES. These genes are turned ON or OFF based...
BOOST Sagging Energy with 5 Supplements
Have you noticed that the older you get, the less you tend to do the things you love? Maybe you used to “cut a rug” swing dancing on Friday nights. But now you stay home to watch the latest episode of Grace and Frankie through your closed eyelids. Or maybe you used to play tennis...
Sleep Hack Boosts Memory and Alertness
Sometimes you wake up from a deep sleep feeling groggy—even after a full night’s rest. Have you ever wondered why that is? No matter how many hours you’re in bed, you might not be getting the quality sleep needed to feel alert. And that doesn’t just leave you feeling like you’ve been hit by a...
