Eat Your Blues Away

Eating blue and purple foods should be a piece of cake. These lustrous gems are not only full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories known for reducing the symptoms of disease, but they taste DELICIOUS!

Studies by the USDA have named blueberries as the number one antioxidant rich fruit. Antioxidants prevent oxidative cell damage which can lead to Alzheimer's, heart disease, and cancerous cells.

Improve Your Memory

The particular antioxidant in blue and dark purple foods is anthocyanin. Studies have shown that 1 cup of wild blueberries a day have improved aging memory cells in humans. Anxious about losing your memory, you may need to step up your blueberry or blackberry consumption.

Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Flavonoids are plant metabolites, hmmm sounds like metabolism, right? Yes, it means these compounds metabolize or "eat" the bacteria in arteries maintaining a healthy cardiovascular disease. In English, this means eating your dark fruits and vegetables everyday can improve circulation and reduce the risk of heart disease.

No More Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's)

You may have heard that cranberries are good for UTI's? This is due to the same process by which the flavonoids "eat" the bacteria from the uterine wall. We know that sugar feeds these bacteria, so it is important to eat dark lustrous cranberries and avoid the sugary juices.

How Blues and Purples Prevent Cancer

When we ingest toxins our cells may oxidize and release free radicals or free roaming oxygen molecules. Antioxidants come to the rescue and "eat" or neutralize these free radicals preventing them from damaging cells and causing cancerous tumors. The best way to avoid free radical damage is to load up on antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables so eat 1 full serving of blues and purples a day.

Dark Blue and Purple Produce

• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Purple plums
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Purple potatoes
• Purple grapes
• Prunes
• Dark cranberries

It is important to eat as many different antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables as possible. We are advised to eat 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. I would make that 6 servings of vegetables and 1 fruit to make sure your fructose levels are not through the roof. Most importantly, eat the rainbow and get your full spectrum of nutrition everyday.