Grab Best Fitness Blog Feed...By Karli Taylor
Growing up I was made to understand the importance of eating my greens. As I have gotten older, I still think about fitting green things in every single day. The more I read, however, the more I realize that this obsession with all things green has actually inhibited my nutritional IQ! A few years ago, with talks of lycopene and antioxidants, red was the new green. Today, it’s all about purple!
How many times in the past week did one of your meals or snacks include a naturally purple food? According to a recent government report nearly 90 percent of Americans don't eat enough produce from this color family, which is linked to a slew of health benefits, from protecting memory and slowing the aging process to warding off Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Can you think of a purple food?
My personal favorite is eggplant. It is low in calories (about 30 per cup cubed), and while it’s not particularly high in vitamins and minerals it's an antioxidant powerhouse. In a recent study when animals with high cholesterol were fed eggplant juice, their cholesterol levels significantly dropped, their circulation improved and blood flow increased reducing stress on the heart.
The next time you reach for grapes in the produce aisle, look past the green and red varieties and reach for the Concords. If you can’t get fresh Concord, go for 100 percent juice. A recent study found that regular consumption of this juice boosted immunity in healthy middle-aged adults. It's a good source of potassium, a mineral that reduces blood pressure, helps prevent muscle cramping and de-bloats by counteracting the effects of sodium.
Last but not least, don’t forget about plums. This stone fruit is in season during the early summer months. They’re a great source of several key nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and are loaded with crucial minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. Don’t worry about missing out on this powerhouse during the winter months- prunes, yes prunes, are actually dried plums!
Trying to think of other purple foods? How about figs, blackberries, and purple varieties of carrots, cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, potatoes, peppers, onions and kale.
Visit one of our Best Fitness Clubs to learn even more about this topic. We have locations in Albany,NY, Tonawanda, NY, Schenectady, NY, Erie, PA, Nashua, NH, Chelmsford, MA, and Drum Hill, MA.
