Purple foods are pretty but they’re powerful, too… and you will love them! Purple foods are often overlooked in favor of other colors. But that’s a travesty. Not only are purple foods tasty but they’re extremely beneficial. That’s because of the purple! These foods get their purple color from anthocyanin. It’s an antioxidant that is like the Secret Service for your cells. It protects EVERYTHING. Hello, health benefits! Heart, brain, mood, purple foods help them all. Below are 19 perfectly purple foods for you to try!
1. Eggplant
Turn to the Middle East and Asia, and you’ll find tons of eggplant-based dishes. You’ll also find some of the longest-living people on the planet. Now, I’m not saying that eating eggplant guarantees you’ll become a centenarian. But I’m not saying that it won’t (wink). These purple plants are both delicious and nutritious. Eggplants are like flavor sponges, soaking up all the seasonings they touch. They work in practically every savory dish. As for the health benefits, eggplants have been shown to fight cancer and anemia. Eggplants also improve the health of your bones, heart, and brain.
2. Purple Kale
Holy cow, this veggie is pretty in purple! It’s so beautifully vibrant that some people plant it solely for decoration. However, I recommend adding it to your weekly menu. Purple kale has a strong flavor. It’s delicious, but you definitely need to balance it with other ingredients. It holds up well to all methods of cooking, but it makes particularly delicious chips. And we all know that kale is good for you.
3. Mangosteen
I’m guessing that you’ve probably never had raw mangosteen before. Though, you may have experienced it in supplements and other products. Despite its name, mangosteen has no relation to mangoes. But they’re just as delicious! Mangosteens are sweet and fresh, with an almost peachy flavor. Mangosteen is one powerful little fruit. Your eyes, digestion, urinary tract, heart, energy, allergies, cholesterol, and skin all benefit from it. Seriously, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
4. Purple Cauliflower
Purple cauliflower tastes like regular cauliflower, but it certainly is much prettier. And it has double the health benefits, thanks to that purple color! Purple cauliflower has a much higher antioxidant content than its white counterpart. So, if cauliflower is your main veggie, use a mix of colors.
5. Purple Grapes
I love grapes of all shapes and sizes. To me, they’re nature’s candy, and I love how they pop in my mouth. Also, I really like wine. There are thousands, yes thousands, of varieties of purple grapes. So, really, there could be a whole article on grapes alone. Each kind is different in its purpleness and also in its flavors. However, they’re all delicious! Some just need a little extra love, like the ones turned into jellies or wines.
6. Purple Potatoes
Like purple cauliflower, purple potatoes taste pretty similar to the average potato. But they carry extra health benefits that are hard to pass up. Purple potatoes contain more antioxidants, so they’re really great disease fighters! They work especially well in tandem with other colors of food, like greens and yellows.
7. Elderberries
If you’re feeling a bit under the weather, the elderberries are your best friend. Elderberries absolutely burst with healthy goodness, like vitamins and antioxidants. Therefore, they superpower your immune system, protect your heart, and combat stress. They fight infection, flu, fever, constipation, and simple aches and pains. They’re literally medicine. However, it’s best not to eat them raw as they contain small amounts of cyanide. And you can only eat the berries and the flowers, as everything else is very toxic. But elderberries make delicious jams, jellies, wines, syrups, and candies. And those are all cooked, so they’re completely safe to consume.
8. Figs
This delicious fruit is the star of a well-known cookie, but it’s so much more! They’re full of delicious flavors, fun textures, and a load of health benefits. Figs taste sweet like honey. When they’re dried, they’re practically candy! They’re good for your bones, teeth, weight loss, immunity, weight loss, skin, and hair.
9. Purple Carrots
Did you know that carrots come in a literal rainbow of colors? We know the classic Bugs Bunny orange carrot. But they come in shades of reds, purples, yellows, and whites. No one carrot color is better than another. Rather, they all have amazing health benefits and a variety of different antioxidants. So, if you can eat a mix, that’s the best. However, purple carrots are great for your heart, digestion, and inflammation.
10. Purple Sweet Potatoes
There are actually three kinds of purple sweet potatoes. One has purple skin, one has purple flesh, and one has both! The two most common varieties are a staple of Hawaiian cuisine. Purple sweet potatoes tend to have a deep, sweet flavor like wine. They take a while to cook, but they’re so worth it!
11. Purple Cabbage
If you’re on the verge of needing glasses, consider upping your purple cabbage intake. Purple cabbage (usually called red cabbage) is a wellspring of beta carotene. Beta carotene is great for eye health and function. Plus, it contains the same anthocyanin as the other purple foods on this list. So, it has a plethora of benefits. And it tastes great in coleslaw!
12. Purple Asparagus
If you’re not a fan of green asparagus, give purple asparagus a try. It’s a little sweeter than its jolly green friend. When cooked, it tastes a bit like artichokes.
Purple asparagus is best enjoyed with simple accompaniments. They only need a little oil, salt, and pepper. That way, its natural deliciousness can shine through.
13. Purple Broccoli
Much like purple asparagus, purple broccoli is the sweeter sibling of the broccoli family. I’d actually say it’s probably the favorite sibling. It works harder for your body than green broccoli, plus, it’s prettier. These purple veggies really have it all.
14. Purple Artichokes
Purple artichokes are hearty, healthy, and delicious. They can be a meal on their own or a fabulous side dish. Purple artichokes are prebiotic and full of fiber. So, they’re the veggie you need if you have gut issues.
15. Lavender Tea
Sit back and relax with a steaming cup of lavender tea. It’s very simple to make, it’s utterly aesthetically pleasing, and it’s so beneficial. This magical tea works to relieve pains all over the body, from sprains to burns. That’s because lavender is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It is often used to combat digestive issues, insomnia, and depression, too.
16. Purple Corn
Purple corn is a great little plant! Although sweet corn is more common, purple corn has benefits that should not be overlooked. Your eyes, kidneys, and blood pressure will thank you for eating it. Look to traditional Peruvian cuisine for the best ways to enjoy this delicious veggie-like fruit.
17. Ube
Ube desserts have taken the internet and the world by storm, and for good reason. They’re vibrantly purple, taste like heaven, and highlight Filipino culture. Ube is a type of yam that comes from the Philippines. It’s highly nutritious and a great source of vitamins, potassium, and resistant starch. Plus, it’s extremely versatile! You’ll find ube dishes from pancakes to brownies to pierogies (yay for fusion dishes).
18. Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is one of my favorite fruits since it’s fabulously tropical. It’s sweet, tart, and insanely delicious. Don’t judge a passion fruit by its shell. The outside of ripe passion fruit is purple, wrinkly, and U-G-L-Y. But the insides? The insides are pure, liquid gold. I love using passion fruit in everything, like cocktails, curds, ice cream, and more! It’s also full of antioxidants that benefit your body from the inside out.
19. Blackberries
I’m ending this list with a bang! Blackberries might not be as popular as raspberries, but they should be. Each little berry bursts with vitamins, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. Plus, they’re low in sugar and calories. They really are a superfood! They’re juicy, tart, sweet, and quite heavenly. They taste amazing on salads or in cakes and so many other things. Talk about versatility! Click on a star to rate it!
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