Is there naturally occurring blue food? Yes, naturally occurring blue foods are rare, but they do exist. The blue foods are:
- Blueberries
- Blue corn
- Cornflowers
- Butterfly blue pea flowers
- Depending on pH: Purple potatoes and red cabbage
What does dependant on pH mean? That you can have some colorful fun with chemistry when preparing food! Most blue foods get their color from anthocyanins, which are beneficial antioxidants. Most of these anthocyanins have unstable pigments in them that change color depending on pH. For example, red cabbage can turn blue or purple when exposed to an alkaline pH. It will turn red or purple in an acidic pH (yes, it can turn purple in acidic or basic pH).
Top 10 health benefits of blueberries
Blueberries are a superfood: They are packed with antioxidant anthocyanins and beneficial nutrients:
- Vitamin A
- B Complex
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Copper
- Iron
- Selenium
- Zinc
There are so many beneficial nutrients in blueberries, you can think of them as nature’s own multivitamin supplements. In fact, blueberries are a better source of nutrition than any supplement you can take.
Top 10 health benefits of blueberries
- Antioxidant: Fights premature aging and harmful oxidation
- Boosts immune system
- Helps reduce belly fat
- Reduces risk of heart disease
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Improved glucose tolerance
- Promotes urinary tract health
- Preserves vision
- Protects brain health
- Protects the liver
Blueberries are a delicious addition to any meal, and they have the highest antioxidant benefit of any fruit!
Blue corn: More of what you want, less of what you don’t
Just like blueberries, blue corn gets its blue color from anthocyanins, so it has an antioxidant benefit that regular corn doesn’t. You will most commonly find blue corn used in tortillas. Blue corn contains 20% more protein than regular corn and has about 10% less starch. Diabetics should note that blue corn has a lower glycemic index than regular corn, so it’s less likely to cause spikes in blood sugar and energy levels.
Purple potatoes: Blue when cooked
Purple potatoes are purple when raw, but will turn blue/purple when cooked. Purple potatoes have antioxidant anthocyanins, and higher nutrient levels than ordinary potatoes. You can substitute blue potatoes for regular potatoes when cooking with potatoes.
Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Warning: Blue potatoes are part of the Nightshade vegetable family. Eating nightshades trigger the pain and inflammation of arthritis, and triggers fibromyalgia flare-ups. Avoid eating nightshades. For more information, click here: 3 Natural Ways to Fight Arthritis
How to remove acidic pesticides from produce
About the only downside to eating any of these healthy blue foods is the fact that most products you buy at the store (except organic) will have pesticide residue on it. The good news is that there is a simple fix: Soak your produce in alkaline water for about 20 minutes. Alkaline water neutralizes pesticides, rendering them harmless so they can be safely rinsed away.
Save $500 on MXL Models 9-15 / Valid Until October 6