On the subject of vegetables and fruit, often the extra vibrant, the extra nutrient-dense! It’s because crops get their colors from energetic elements referred to as phytonutrients (often known as phytochemicals), which develop of their pores and skin to assist crops keep wholesome.
Put merely, the color of meals is immediately linked to the sort and degree of vitamins discovered inside them. Figuring out this, it’s no shock that superfoods are among the brightest and vividly colored round!
Not solely do superfoods present superb well being advantages, however they’ll usually be used as pure dyes/ colouring. Why not add an additional splash of color to your cooking utilizing a few of nature’s most nutrient-dense meals?!
Purple
Purple, in addition to blue and black vegetables and fruit, are among the healthiest nature has to supply and get their deep colouration from the phytonutrient anthocyanin, which has highly effective antioxidant properties. Sadly, they’re among the least consumed meals every day.
Darkish meals reminiscent of acai berries, purple cabbage and blueberries comprise nutritional vitamins and antioxidants. Acai berries might assist to cut back irritation and shield your cells from oxidative stress. Within the short-term, irritation is the physique’s self-defence mechanism, nonetheless, continual irritation might result in a number of ailments of affluence.
In order for you a pure purple dye that protects your physique, look no additional than our Natural Acai powder, which has a deep, wealthy purple color in addition to 3 instances your every day requirement of the important nutrient manganese. Use it so as to add a splash of color to your blueberry pancakes or give a cheesecake an additional purple dimension!
Inexperienced
In all probability the commonest color discovered within the pure world, the inexperienced pigment primarily comes from the phytonutrient Chlorophyll together with a number of different compounds reminiscent of phytosterols which assist steadiness levels of cholesterol.
Inexperienced meals are packed filled with nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, supporting your immune system, stimulating your metabolism and serving to to cleanse your physique.
An apparent candidate that delivers such advantages and provides an additional inexperienced punch to your smoothie is Chlorella powder. Mix a teaspoon into your smoothie for a heat, gentle inexperienced. Alternatively, wheatgrass, one of many world’s most chlorophyll-rich meals, creates a superbly brilliant green-yellow color, an ideal addition to a freshly squeezed juice. Take a look at this Wheatgrass, Apple and Lime Juice for some inspiration!
Yellow
Fruits reminiscent of pineapples and lemons get their brilliant yellow color from the phytonutrients lutein and zeaxanthin which assist pores and skin and eye well being, in addition to cognitive well being.
On the subject of pure yellow dyes, nonetheless, turmeric is Queen. Versus different yellow meals, the compound curcumin causes turmeric’s brilliant yellow color. Turmeric is regularly used to dye materials but additionally has a delicate, earthy flavour, which means it may well add nice color to your cooking with out interfering a lot with the style.
Our Turmeric SuperBlend accommodates maca and lucuma, two different superb yellow superfoods. Strive it in baking, a superbly golden latte and even cupcake frosting to assist vitality and immunity.
Orange & Pink
Carotenoids are pigments present in each orange and crimson in vegetables and fruit. There are a number of completely different carotenoids together with the well-known phytonutrient beta-carotene which causes the glowing orange of carrots and oranges. The physique converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, important to a wholesome immune system, pores and skin and imaginative and prescient.
However, the carotenoids lycopene and zeaxanthin are present in crimson meals reminiscent of our Natural goji berries. Because of their excessive ranges of carotenoids, goji berries shield in opposition to free radicals and oxidative stress.
Sprinkle goji berries into your porridge, add them to your favorite salad for a contact of sweetness, or eat a handful as a snack to ensure you’re getting the perfect vitamins crimson meals have to supply.
Take a look at our recipe part to see a spread of scrumptious recipes that attained their stunning color merely from superfoods. This Vegan Berry Smoothie, this Turmeric Superlatte, and this Pineapple & Wheatgrass Smoothie are a few of our all-time favourites!