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Drink Your Colors with Kefir – Powerful Purples and Blues

The last stop in our Drink You Colors with Kefir series is with our powerful, potent purples and blues. Purple and blue fruits and vegetables are abundant in nature, easily recognized and, most of all delicious. From blueberries and blackberries, to eggplants and even cauliflower, they’re packed with important vitamins and minerals and, you guessed it, phytonutrients.

What’s Inside

Purple/blue foods contain flavonoids called anthocyanins. As health-promoting chemicals, research shows that anthocyanins may:

  • Promote eye and heart health
  • Decreasing cancer cell proliferation/have cancer fighting properties
  • Support a healthy immune system
  • Protect against premature aging
  • Cut your risk of diabetes

Anthocyanins are also extremely powerful antioxidants, which help protect from inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.

More Pigment, More Value

Along with anthocyanins and flavonoids, specific purple/blue fruits and veggies contain high concentrations of other important vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. They’re also generally high in fiber, meaning they help support your digestive system, too!

  • Purple carrots contain high concentrations of vitamin A and lutein, which support eye health
  • Blueberries contain a healthy dose of vitamin C, which supports collagen production and immunity
  • Purple potatoes contain chlorogenic acid, which has been linked to lower blood pressure
  • Purple grapes contain resveratrol, a polyphenol with antioxidant properties that is shown to support heart/cardiovascular health

Purple fruits and veggies can be used interchangeable with their commonly colored counterparts. Try purple spuds in our Kefir Potato Salad or purple carrots in our Carrot Crème Kefir Smoothie. If in doubt, grab a variety of your favorite berries and fruits and blend them up in a delicious kefir smoothie! You really can’t go wrong. Today, we’re blending up an easy purple-icious Blueberry Kefir Smoothie. Enjoy!

Purple-icious Blueberry Kefir Smoothie

blueberry-kefir-smoothie

 

Combine all ingredients in a blender in the order that they are listed. Blend on high until desired consistency is reached.

Sources:
http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/purple-carrots-nutrition-vs-orange-cultivars.php
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/805508/the-nutritional-power-of-purple-foods
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/fruit-and-veggie-color-list
http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/04/02/what-purple-and-blue-foods-can-do-for-you/
http://www.medicaldaily.com/health-benefits-blueberries-5-reasons-eat-more-blueberries-246727