Anthocyanins Definition, Food Sources, Supplements and Benefits

As the old saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, humans have long discovered that eating colorful fruits and vegetables regularly promotes a healthy life. Fruits and vegetables contain many natural compounds that have beneficial health effects, including vitamins, carotenoids, and of course, anthocyanins. This article focuses on what you need to know about anthocyanins and how they can protect us from chronic diseases.

What are anthocyanins?

anthocyaninIt is a group of natural compounds present in all tissues of higher plants. You can think of it as the color of certain flowers and fruits, such as red, blue, yellow and purple, and there are more than 600 types of anthocyanins discovered so far. Scientifically speaking, anthocyanins belong to flavonoids. Generally, these pigments protect plants from insects and help attract animals for pollination and seeding.

However, some studies have shown that anthocyanins have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the body. Nowadays, the benefits of anthocyanins are becoming more and more popular. Experiments have shown that these pigments can maintain cardiovascular health and improve vision. Fruits like blueberries and cranberries are great sources of anthocyanins, providing large amounts in a single serving. Experts recommend that we consume 180-215 mg of anthocyanins per day.

Anthocyanins have also recently attracted great interest from cosmetic and food suppliers because they can add vibrant colors to products, greatly improving their appearance without any side effects.

Food sources of anthocyanins

Berries

Berries are the main source of various anthocyanins in our diet, with a fresh weight content of about 300 mg/g. These include strawberries, black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, red raspberries, bilberries, white currants, and black currants.

flower

The flowers are also a rich source of anthocyanins, which have high antioxidant capacity. Some common examples are carnations, tulips, and violets.

穀物

Another major source of anthocyanins is grains. Dark rice grains such as black barley, blue barley and purple barley contain anthocyanins that play an important role in protecting health.

蔬菜

Vegetables such as eggplant, beans, cabbage, radish and onions also contain high amounts of anthocyanins.

Other fruits and wine

Fruits such as figs and apples are dietary sources of anthocyanins. Similarly, drinks such as red wine can also provide 1-250 mg of anthocyanins per liter.

Health Benefits of Anthocyanins

Protect cardiovascular health

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of anthocyanins play an important role in cardiovascular health. There is a lot of evidence that anthocyanins help fight free radicals in heart cells. These compounds can reduce the oxidation of intravascular fat and minimize the potential for vascular dysfunction. Anthocyanins also boost the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps relax coronary arteries.

Helps manage weight

Generally speaking, foods rich in anthocyanins are low in fat and can help maintain body weight. If you are overweight, choose foods rich in anthocyanins or related supplements whenever possible.

Improve memory and vision

Anthocyanins may improve vision and reduce the risk of vision problems. Most experiments on brain cognitive function have shown that the antioxidant effect of anthocyanins enhances the information transmission of brain neurons and improves the utilization of glucosamine. Therefore, they believe that these pigments can improve memory and maintain brain health.

Anthocyanin Supplements

You may think of anthocyanins as a rich ingredient in dietary supplements. Because of their potent antioxidant properties, manufacturers add anthocyanins to supplements to treat a variety of conditions. Because anthocyanins prevent the development of diseases and the aging process caused by free radicals. With conclusive studies around the world, people may consider using anthocyanin supplements to enhance systemic immunity, improve vision, and provide cardiovascular protection.

Some anthocyanin supplements include:

Weberjian – Blueberry Extract + Bilberry for Anti-Aging and Improves Eyesight: A high-potency antioxidant formula rich in anthocyanins to help maintain eye health. Designed to promote blood circulation around the eyes and protect eyes from blue light. This product also has the function of quickly alleviating eyestrain and dry eye problems.
Charenda – Lutein + Blueberry Concentrate Tablets (with Kakadu Plum): This product combines anthocyanins and lutein to provide powerful antioxidant properties. Its formula protects eyes from blue light and also relieves eyestrain. It can also enhance immunity and prevent the occurrence of diseases.

Gogo Herbs is a fast-growing online health supplement store in Hong Kong, providing high-quality health products to customers across Hong Kong. We offer our customers a carefully selected range of vitamins and minerals, herbal medicines and functional foods. These highly effective and pure products are beneficial to the overall health of the customer. The supplements at Gogo Herbs store include quality products from major well-known brands, and our team of experts selects supplements for young and old with mild or severe health challenges. All carefully selected supplements are safe and legally certified.