From The Straits Times    |

Image courtesy of Cover Media

We’re used to hearing about crazy diet fads making their way over from Hollywood. But are you familiar with the purple diet?

It’s as simple as it sounds – people sticking to this can only eat purple foods. And if you needed convincing: it was the key to Mariah Carey losing her baby weight after having twins Monroe and Moroccan. On three days of the week she would switch a normal diet for consuming products of just that shade.

You might be thinking: why purple? For a start, foods of that colour contain Anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. They prevent cell damage and lower the risk of cancer and can even help ward off heart problems.

But get your hands away from the purple Skittles – that’s not what we’re talking about here! The focus is on fruit and vegetables of that colour – everything from a light violet to a deeper shade counts. Think aubergine, plums, grapes, purple carrots and red cabbage. Berries are also on the menu: blackberries and blackcurrants are both tasty and nutritious. You can also bend the rules a little and incorporate pink and red shades – so feast on raspberries, strawberries , cherries and pink grapefruit. Your treat for all this hard work? Red wine is allowed – but be sensible and follow the motto ‘everything in moderation’.

In terms of whether the purple diet is healthy, it can be argued that incorporating more food of this colour is never a bad idea. Blueberries are great for providing energy while also helping to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. But as with anything, relying on one source of nutrition is never wise. Rather than ruling out other foods, just incorporate more of the purple. Swapping your lunchtime sandwich for a salad full of red cabbage and purple carrot is a great place to start, while switching biscuits and other sweet treats for purple berries is a welcome move. Aim to eat at least two purple things every day and you’ll be on the right track.

© Cover Media


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