Skip to content
Call Liz Today! 519-857-2189|lizdavis@forsimplehealth.ca
FacebookEmail
Liz Davis Logo

Simple ways to feel Healthy, Energetic & Young

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Nordic Pole Walking
  • Juice Plus+
  • The Tower Garden
  • Contact
Previous Next

The Colour Purple

What’s the most fashionable colour this growing season? It’s purple – at least as far as fruits & vegetables are concerned.

All brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, compounds which play a key role in protecting our bodies against disease. One class, anthocyanins, has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing the risk factors associated with heart disease.

Anthocyanins are the antioxidants that are responsible for the stunning hues of autumn leaves and the various hues flowers, fruits and berries. They are found in large concentrations in black currents, blackberries and blueberries, as well as red cabbage, cranberries & cherries.

They are not, however, found in tomatoes. Or not until scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England took a couple of genes from the ornamental snap dragon and presto – the purple tomato was born.

Why do we want such a thing?

Professor Cathie Martin, one of the scientists working on the project, says that a purple tomato will bring the healthful compounds found in blueberries and cranberries etc. to the foods people normally eat in large quantities. The purple tomato could improve the nutritional content of everything from ketchup to pizza topping at an affordable cost.

A study of mice reared on a diet of purple tomatoes lived 30% longer than mice consuming red tomatoes. A large study completed on nurses over 18 years found that nurses with a high intake of anthocyanins had a 30% reduced risk of heart attack.  Read more.

What are some of the other benefits of anthocyanins?

They have been reported as having the capacity to improve visual acuity, reduce cancer cell proliferation, inhibit tumor formation, and prevent diabetes. They are also reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity.

The purple tomato contains almost as many anthocyanins as a cup of blueberries (500 mg) and far more than strawberries.  You can also go for black raspberries at 850 mg. per cup, or seek out elderberries or chokecherries at 2,000 per cup.

If you don’t make the recommended 5 servings of different fruits and vegetables every day, and it you’re not ready to chug down a glass of purple tomato juice when it becomes available why not try a whole food supplement?

Here’s one that will give you the nutritional essence of nine different grapes and berries every day. Take a look.

By Liz Davis|2021-02-16T12:23:32-05:00February 15th, 2021|Food Facts|2 Comments

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

FacebookTwitterRedditLinkedInTumblrPinterestVkEmail

About the Author: Liz Davis

Liz Davis is a Pole Walking Instructor who writes about simple ways to stay healthy and slow down the aging process. Click here to receive a weekly wellness tip by email. To read more posts click here.

2 Comments

  1. John Palmer February 17, 2021 at 10:37 am

    Hi Liz

    Thought the piece was really interesting.

    I rely on 250 ml of beetroot juice every morning after cycling 8 miles up and down the lanes in Devon near our home.

  2. Natalie DiMeo February 17, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    Think the consumer is ready for this now. Remember when Heinz tried to sell green and purple ketchup? That was a massive failure.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Find us on Facebook

Recent Posts

  • 3 Good Reasons Why You Should Consider Growing Your Own Food
  • Find Your Fit – Even If You Dislike Exercise
  • The Colour Purple
  • The Bottomless Soup Pot
  • A Few Things You May Not Know About Apples

Wellness Weekly

SIGN UP and receive a weekly dose of health & wellness inspiration you can use.
* = required field

Blog Categories

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
© Copyright | For Simple Health by Liz Davis | All Rights Reserved | Website by NextPage
FacebookEmail
Go to Top