Top 20 Blue Foods For Your Pantry & Fridge (+ 5 Surprising Health Benefits)

Here are my top 20 naturally blue foods to keep stocked in your pantry and fridge from season to season. From fruits to veggies to grains to beverages, this list is diverse and interesting. It also includes some lesser known health benefits that may surprise you! Read on to learn why you may want to eat blue foods everyday of the year!

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Eat the Rainbow

How many colors can you get on your plate?

As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I always recommend my clients eat as many colors of the rainbow as possible. My rule of thumb is to aim for 3-5 natural colors on your plate per meal. This ensures you get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals along with disease-crushing compounds.

But first, what on earth makes these foods so pretty?!

What Makes Them Blue?

Blue foods get their enchanting shades from a plant pigment called anthocyanin. These pigments range from red and dark pink like you see in cherries, cranberries and pomegranates to the deep blues and purples seen in berries, purple grapes, red cabbage and blue corn.

Even though we are talking about blue foods here, the same compounds that make various shades of blue also create lovely hues of red and pink. The blue and purple colors tend to manifest in more neutral or alkaline settings (mid to high pH) while reds and pinks come about from higher acid content (low pH). ALL of them contain health-boosting anthocyanins.

These pretty colors are even found in flower petals like roses, violets and delphiniums. Their colors are often extracted and used as natural food coloring (a far better alternative to carcinogenic dyes). Plus these extracts have numerous health benefits to boot!

Let's take a look at 5 rewards you can get from eating more blue foods.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Blue Foods

There is no doubt blue foods are a gift from heaven to help humans and animals stay smart, remain strong and ward off illness. From head to toe, these superfoods have some surprising benefits for both our brains and bodies.

Let's dive into 5 awesome powers these colorful and delicious foods provide for human health:

1. Better Eyesight

Did you know anthocyanin-rich blue foods and supplements are commonly used in Europe and Asia for eye health? It's no surprise given studies show all kinds of associations with anthocyanins and vision health. For one thing, anthocyanins have been found to cross the blood-retinal barrier giving them special access to work magic in our eyes.

This healing work includes increasing retinal blood flow in glaucoma patients and helping regenerate light-sensitive eye proteins called rhodopsins, which help us see in dim light. An early study in 1989 even showed the use of dark blue bilberry fruit and vitamin E to stop the progression of cataracts in 96% of human subjects!

Bilberries and blackcurrants, which both have very high anthocyanin content, have been a favorite in eye-health studies. Purple corn has also been shown to improve cataract issues.

Even if your eye health is "fine" right now, you'll do well to "look to the future" by adding more dark blue foods to your plate. And if your eyes are struggling already, be sure to get more blue foods on the menu!

2. Improved Memory & Attention Span

I remember the first time I read a long and nerdy National Geographic article from start to finish (back when the articles were ultra detailed page after page). It was directly after consuming an entire package of Trader Joe's wild blueberries. I didn't know what had gotten into me... except those berries!

I believed then and now that my improved focus was due to the amazing properties found in those dark blueberries. Science backs this up! In fact a study on kids ages 7-10 showed that giving them an anthocyanin-rich wild blueberry drink (the equivalent of about 1-1/2 cups of blueberries) significantly improved their memory and attention spans right away. This is exactly what happened to me after mowing down all those berries!

And this benefit is not just found in kiddos. Blueberries, and other dark blue foods like Concord grapes, have been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory, in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers note that these memory-boosting fruit findings are very significant-- especially for adults with an increased risk for dementia. An animal study even showed big improvements in memory and motor performance in rats who loaded up on blackberries.

And lest we give all the glory to fruit, another animal study using blue corn tortillas showed better short and long term memory skills, as well learning abilities, in rats. While this was a rodent study, I take it as great news for me and my fellow blue corn lovers!

Here is another "smart" reason to keep plenty of blue foods in your fridge and pantry. Remember, these foods can help our brains at any age so be sure the whole family has access to lots of yummy blue options (see top 20 list below).

3. Reduced Joint & Knee Pain

I don't know about you, but anything that helps my brain work better AND supports my knees deserves 5,000 bonus points!

Two studies done on patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (affecting their mobility and quality of life) used berry fruits to reduce pain levels and improve walking abilities. One of these studies looked at blueberries while the other used strawberries. Both concluded that the compounds found in berries provided a multitude of benefits, including: acting as a natural analgesic (a.k.a. pain reliever), reducing inflammation and improving stride.

Those are some pretty awesome positive side effects to simply eating more blueberries and strawberries everyday!

Another analysis reviewed studies of various types fruits affecting different types of arthritis-- regular arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The biggest winners for promoting arthritic healing and natural pain relief across the board were... you guessed it: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and pomegranates. Hello, anthocyanin-rich fruits!

When you think of putting more blue foods on your plate, remember to embrace the reds, pinks and magentas as well! It's all in the family!

4. Decreased Overall Disease Risk

From cancer to cardiovascular disease, from diabetes to Alzheimer's, from osteoporosis to colitis, anthocyanin-rich foods show very promising results for reducing our risks of some of life's most dreaded diseases.

A common thread in many of these studies has been consuming significant doses of blue foods. For example, in a heart health study it was found that at-risk populations (such as those with obesity) had to consume at least one cup of blueberries per day to improve their cardiovascular health. When they consumed half that amount, no benefits were observed.

In the cancer cell studies, very high concentrations of anthocyanins were used in vitro (in a dish) and in vivo (in animals) to see amazing results such as: free radical scavenging activity, detoxification activity, reduced tumor cell growth and reduced invasiveness. Human studies showed mixed results (some very promising and some insignificant) perhaps because of lower concentrations than in vitro studies or perhaps because of the way anthocyanins are absorbed in the human tummy. Hopefully more human studies will come forth soon!

In the meantime, there is plenty of research to validate a multitude of health benefits form consuming lots of anthocyanin-rich blue foods (see References below).

Whether you are concerned with your own heart health, brain health, blood sugar or bones, your health and longevity will most certainly benefit from a rainbow of fruits and veggies consumed daily. And blue foods should always be on the menu!

5. Happier Moods

Blue foods are NOT associated with the blues. Rather the opposite!

The flavonoids found in blueberries have been associated with positive moods. Studies done on children and young adults-- ages when depression can first manifest-- showed significantly less depressive symptoms in groups treated with wild blueberries.

One reason this may be possible is this:

And even more amazing, anthocyanins have also been found to cross the blood brain barrier and accumulate in several parts of the brain working their neuroprotective magic.

This special access to our brain cells protects us from damaging substances like environmental toxins and free-radicals that can build up in the brain damaging our memories, motor functions and moods. This effect on moods is significant since depression is linked to an increased risk for dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.

When we consume anthocyanin-rich blue foods, we are providing our precious brains with optimal blood flow and powerful nutrients that fight off stressors that lead not only to the blues, but to major cognitive diseases later in life.

Keep your brain cells and neurotransmitters happy with regular doses of beautiful, blue (and red and pink) foods.

Top 20 Blue Foods to Keep in Your Pantry & Fridge

We are all bio-individual so different foods will agree with some more than others. A food on this list may sound good one day and not on the other. Listen to your body and follow your cravings and aversions (as long as they don't lead to sugary treats or cause you to avoid ALL the veggies 😁).

Here is a solid list of some of the BEST anthocyanin-rich blue, purple and red foods to keep in your pantry and fridge throughout the year:

1. Berries!!! These include: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, acai berries, cranberries, bilberries, elderberries, black currants, maquiberries and any dark colored berries. Frozen or fresh berries both have loads of anthocyanins.

2. Pomegranates

3. Cherries

4. Black Plums

5. Red and Purple Grapes

6. Blood Oranges

7. Red Apples

8. Red Cabbage (hello, stir fries and sauerkraut!)

9. Blue or Purple Corn or Cornmeal (hello, blue cornbread and blue corn chips! Always choose organic corn products to avoid GMOs and pesticides that are heavily use in all corn crops.)

10. Purple Eggplants

11. Red Onion

12. Purple and Black Carrots

13. Black Rice (choose dry farmed rice whenever possible to reduce arsenic exposure)

14. Black Beans

15. Purple Potatoes or Purple Sweet Potatoes

16. Purple Asparagus (or if you can find them, purple Brussels Sprouts)

17. Purple Cauliflower

18. Red Radishes

19. Purple Kale

20. Red Wine

What's your favorite blue food on this list? What's something new you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments below or comment here on Instagram!

Looking for Some Easy Blue Food Recipes? Try These!

• Organic Heirloom Blue Cornbread (Gluten Free + Dairy Free Options)

• Dark Berry Brainy Chia Compote (No Added Sugar - Kid Friendly!)

• High Protein Oatmeal Bowl (That Won't Make You Sleepy!)

• Best Instant Pot Black Beans (Carb Cycling, Digestion, MTHFR Support)

• Blackberry Peach Brain Power Smoothie with Ginger & Walnuts (Dairy Free Option)

References:

1. Aguirre López, L. O., Chávez Servia, J. L., Gómez Rodiles, C. C., Beltrán Ramírez, J. R., & Bañuelos Pineda, J. (2017). Blue Corn Tortillas: Effects on Learning and Spatial Memory in Rats. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 72(4), 448–450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-017-0642-1

2. Barfoot, K. L., May, G., Lamport, D. J., Ricketts, J., Riddell, P. M., & Williams, C. M. (2019). The effects of acute wild blueberry supplementation on the cognition of 7-10-year-old schoolchildren. European journal of nutrition, 58(7), 2911–2920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1843-6

3. Basu, A., , Schell, J., , & Scofield, R. H., (2018). Dietary fruits and arthritis. Food & function, 9(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7fo01435j

4. Belwal, T., Nabavi, S. F., Nabavi, S. M., & Habtemariam, S. (2017). Dietary Anthocyanins and Insulin Resistance: When Food Becomes a Medicine. Nutrients, 9(10), 1111. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9101111

5. Blesso C. N. (2019). Dietary Anthocyanins and Human Health. Nutrients, 11(9), 2107. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092107

6. Du, C., Smith, A., Avalos, M., South, S., Crabtree, K., Wang, W., Kwon, Y. H., Vijayagopal, P., & Juma, S. (2019). Blueberries Improve Pain, Gait Performance, and Inflammation in Individuals with Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. Nutrients, 11(2), 290. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11020290

7. Fisk, J., Khalid, S., Reynolds, S. A., & Williams, C. M. (2020). Effect of 4 weeks daily wild blueberry supplementation on symptoms of depression in adolescents. The British journal of nutrition, 1–8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520000926

8. Herrera-Sotero, M. Y., Cruz-Hernández, C. D., Oliart-Ros, R. M., Chávez-Servia, J. L., Guzmán-Gerónimo, R. I., González-Covarrubias, V., Cruz-Burgos, M., & Rodríguez-Dorantes, M. (2020). Anthocyanins of Blue Corn and Tortilla Arrest Cell Cycle and Induce Apoptosis on Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells. Nutrition and cancer, 72(5), 768–777. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2019.1654529

9. Khalid, S., Barfoot, K. L., May, G., Lamport, D. J., Reynolds, S. A., & Williams, C. M. (2017). Effects of Acute Blueberry Flavonoids on Mood in Children and Young Adults. Nutrients, 9(2), 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9020158

10. Kobylewski, S., & Jacobson, M. F. (2012). Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health, 18(3), 220–246. https://doi.org/10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000034

11. Khoo, H. E., Azlan, A., Tang, S. T., & Lim, S. M. (2017). Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins: colored pigments as food, pharmaceutical ingredients, and the potential health benefits. Food & nutrition research, 61(1), 1361779. https://doi.org/10.1080/16546628.2017.1361779

12. Krikorian, R., Nash, T. A., Shidler, M. D., Shukitt-Hale, B., & Joseph, J. A. (2010). Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The British journal of nutrition, 103(5), 730–734. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509992364

13. Krikorian, R., Shidler, M. D., Nash, T. A., Kalt, W., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M. R., Shukitt-Hale, B., & Joseph, J. A. (2010). Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(7), 3996–4000. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf9029332

14. Nomi, Y., Iwasaki-Kurashige, K., & Matsumoto, H. (2019). Therapeutic Effects of Anthocyanins for Vision and Eye Health. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(18), 3311. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24183311

15. Ownby, R. L., Crocco, E., Acevedo, A., John, V., & Loewenstein, D. (2006). Depression and risk for Alzheimer disease: systematic review, meta-analysis, and metaregression analysis. Archives of general psychiatry, 63(5), 530–538. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.5.530

16. Pojer, E., Mattivi, F., Johnson, D. and Stockley, C.S. (2013), The Case for Anthocyanin Consumption to Promote Human Health: A Review. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 12: 483-508. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12024

17. Schell, J., Scofield, R. H., Barrett, J. R., Kurien, B. T., Betts, N., Lyons, T. J., Zhao, Y. D., & Basu, A. (2017). Strawberries Improve Pain and Inflammation in Obese Adults with Radiographic Evidence of Knee Osteoarthritis. Nutrients, 9(9), 949. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9090949

18. Shukitt-Hale, B., Cheng, V. & Joseph, J.A. (2009) Effects of blackberries on motor and cognitive function in aged rats,Nutritional Neuroscience,12:3,135-140,DOI: 10.1179/147683009X423292

19. Thiraphatthanavong, P., Wattanathorn, J., Muchimapura, S., Thukham-Mee, W., Wannanon, P., Tong-un, T., Suriharn, B. & Lertrat, K. (2014). Preventive Effect of Zea mays L. (Purple Waxy Corn) on Experimental Diabetic Cataract. BioMed research international. 2014. 507435. 10.1155/2014/507435.

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21. Wang, L. S., & Stoner, G. D. (2008). Anthocyanins and their role in cancer prevention. Cancer letters, 269(2), 281–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2008.05.020

22. Wikipedia. (2020, June 18). Anthocyanin. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthocyanin

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About the Author

Roxie Daggett is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) with a virtual holistic nutrition practice in Sedona, Arizona. Her passions include studying nutritional research pertaining to brain health, gut health, genetics and longevity. When she is not geeking out on nutrition she enjoys cooking, hiking, organic gardening and hanging out with her wonderful husband, and her adorable, energetic son who happens to have Down syndrome. Learn more on her About page and stay in touch by grabbing your FREE BRAIN HEALTH BREAKFAST GUIDE above or below!