If you're a fan of the show The Eric Andre Show, you might be familiar with the "What if it was purple?" skit. In the episode, Eric is presented with several objects and reacts to them by cheering or vomiting. The skit has become a meme, appearing in exploitable image macros and YouTube parodies.
The hues that make up purple, along with blue and red, are pigments called anthocyanins. These nutrients are powerful antioxidants, with a wealth of health benefits. They protect fruits and vegetables from sunlight damage, cold temperatures, and stressors, such as disease and aging. They also provide protection from cardiovascular and neurological diseases. They are also anti-inflammatory and can reduce gastrointestinal issues, such as acid reflux.
You can find anthocyanins in common fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, blackberries, red cabbage, and purple carrots. Other lesser-known purple foods include rhubarb, eggplant, and purple sweet potatoes. While you shouldn't switch to only eating purple veggies, incorporating these into your diet is an easy way to add some extra color to your meals.
You can also find anthocyanins in darker foods, such as purple rice, quinoa, black mission figs, and black soy beans. Some people shy away from these less-commonly eaten purple foods, assuming they are genetically modified, but this is not the case. These are long-standing, natural varieties that have been selected and bred over time for their colorful appearance. These dark foods have a high concentration of anthocyanins, and they are nutrient-dense.