The health benefits of good nutrition are various: in a previous article ( 5 spices to improve your beauty glow) we talked about how certain spices make us feel better and regain vitality, whether they are eaten or applied topically.
For example, turmeric has excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used along with a spoonful of yogurt and a pinch of black pepper, as an "anti-aging" face mask.
PURPLE FOODS AND ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES
In today's article, we reveal the best kept anti-aging secret: purple-colored foods!
Purple fruits and vegetables have numerous health properties and should always be present on our dinner tables. Purple foods get their colour from a plant pigment called "anthocyanins", which helps protect our body, has anti-aging benefits and helps our brain and nervous system function better.
A poor lifestyle, incorrect nutrition, smoking and excessive alcohol, favours the production of free radicals, chemical molecules that accelerate the aging processes of our body and weaken the immune system, thus facilitating the onset of serious pathologies.
For this reason, it is necessary to follow proper diet. The following foods not only provide numerous health benefits but help you feel youthful and stay in shape.
7 purple-colored foods that fight cellular aging:
I. Red chicory: one of the finest purple vegetables. This type of vegetable contains high amounts of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, and particular substances that stimulate liver activity and facilitate the production of bile.
II. Plum: a fruit rich in antioxidant substances, such as flavonoids and polyphenols (including anthocyanins, which we talked about previously), as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber, useful good bowel health. Numerous studies show plums to be the most effective in neutralising free radicals and therefore we recommend it for the improvement of skin texture and elasticity.
III. Bilberries: in addition to presence of anthocyanins, these foods are rich in petunidin, a substance that makes the capillaries more permeable, favouring the drainage of liquids and helping blood circulation. They help prevent diseases such as capillary fragility, cellulite and venous insufficiency, but are also useful for counteracting age-related problems, such as memory loss and visual fatigue. Furthermore, blueberries are rich in resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant, effective both in reducing the production of free radicals and as a protective factor against neurodegenerative diseases.
IV. Eggplant: vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Eggplants have a high antioxidant power, stimulate microcirculation and help reduce abdominal bloating. When cooking this food it is advisable to always use them whole and not to remove the peel, as it is the primary source of anthocyanins and fibers.
V. Blackberries: they contain very high percentages of antioxidants, despite being small in size. In the pulp there is a high concentration of vitamin C and in the seeds there is vitamin E, which often acts in support of anthocyanins, giving a high anti-aging power.
VI. Purple potato: compared to the classic potato, its flavour is sweeter, similar to that of chestnuts. It contains high amounts of anthocyanins, vitamins A, C and important mineral salts, which make it extremely healthy for the body.
VII. Purple carrot: although it may seem uncommon, it used to be a stable food in past centuries. Lately its use has been rediscovered thanks to its numerous health properties. In fact, this food has few calories and a high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, mainly due to the high concentration of anthocyanins.
Find out more on Palazzo Fiuggi nutrition specialties.