What’s Behind The Diet?

Mariah Carey swore by it to get rid of her baby pounds after her twin pregnancy, but what’s really behind the so-called ‘purple diet’?

New nutritional trends and diets are always spilling over from the USA, especially when they have celebrity followers. The “Purple Diet” is one of these hypes and only allows purple-colored foods. Mariah Carey fought her baby pounds with this diet after giving birth to her twins Monroe and Moroccan. Three days a week, the singer eats only food that is purple – but as much of it as she wants.

Why only purple?

Purple foods contain so-called anthocyanins. These are particularly effective antioxidants that protect against cell damage, reduce the risk of cancer and allegedly even prevent cardiovascular disease. Anthocyanins are also said to slow down the aging process and thus help against unpleasant skin wrinkles.

What is allowed?

On the menu – how could it be otherwise – are fruits and vegetables in any shade of purple and violet, that is, for example, eggplants, plums, grapes, purple carrots, red cabbage, black currants, and blackberries. Blueberries are the absolute leaders, as they have the highest anthocyanin content. In addition to purple foods, pink, pink, and red treats may also be eaten, i.e. raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and pink grapefruits. These are said to provide additional vitamins. By the way, red wine may also be consumed as part of the purple diet, as it also contains anthocyanins and can be beneficial to health. However, the motto “enjoy in moderation” applies here!

Is it healthy?

It is by no means wrong to follow the basic idea of this diet trend and consume more purple fruits and vegetables. Blueberries, in particular, are good for the body and provide a lot of energy. They also lower blood fat levels and, as a result, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition, the delicious berries melt unhealthy belly fat. According to health experts, however, it becomes problematic if you eat a one-sided diet – and this is exactly what the purple diet calls for. Then one lacks important nutrients, which are in different colored fruit and vegetables – like for example Carotinoide, which is in red and yellow food, or Lignane, which occurs in whole grain products. British nutritionist Elouise Bauskis, therefore, advises, “Nutritionally, it is recommended to consume a rainbow of colors every day, meaning a variety of fruits and vegetables. It’s not recommended to focus only on purple foods, as this generally leads to an unbalanced diet.”

It’s all in the balance!

According to Bauskis, despite this criticism, one should not completely discard the purple diet, but learn from it. “You should definitely eat purple foods – preferably every day – to meet your needs for these valuable nutrients,” is her advice.

Avatar photo

Written by Bella Adams

I'm a professionally-trained, executive chef with over ten years in Restaurant Culinary and hospitality management. Experienced in specialized diets, including Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw foods, whole food, plant-based, allergy-friendly, farm-to-table, and more. Outside of the kitchen, I write about lifestyle factors that impact well-being.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Clay Diet: That’s Why It’s So Dangerous.

LOGI Method: Low Carb Super Fats: Fat Away With Logi!