The power of purple veggies

Don't adjust your screen. Those are not your average orange carrot. In fact, did you know that the first carrots were originally purple and white? It wasn't until some genetic modifications that we came to have our beloved orange carrots.

Carrots are loaded with great vitamins and nutrients, and pretty light on calories. If you want a big boost of anti-oxidant goodness, go for the purple varieties of your favorite fruit and vegetables. They contain anthocyanins, powerful anti-oxidants that help to combat cytokines that promote inflammation. In fact, these purple roots have nine times the anti-oxidants of their orange, yellow and white cousins.

Lower inflammation has positive long term effects on your health. High levels of inflammation leads to heart disease, cognitive decline, and diabetes, just to name a few. Maxing out your veggie intake is a great way to keep your system operating at its best. Try to eat as many colors per day as you can, including purple!

To dig a little deeper into the topic, check out this great article on Healthline.com