An anthoxanthin is any of a group of water-soluble flavinoid pigments found in plants.
White vegetables like cauliflower and turnips contain pigments known as anthoxanthins, which are responsible for their white color. These pigments include compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which provide various health benefits like antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects.
The pH can affect the color, texture, and flavor of angel food cake. The color is preserved by making it slightly acidic. If it was too alkaline, the anthoxanthins pigments will turn yellow. The texture is improved by adding acid as well. The acid helps to denature proteins in the egg white, which will help improve the egg white foam used in the cake. The flavor can also be affected by the pH. If too much baking soda (alkaline) is added to a cake, the cake will taste soapy. If too much cream of tarter (acid) is added, the cake will taste too sour.
Chlorophyll (a, b, c, d, e, f), carotenoids (carotenes, xanthophyll, fucoxanthin), and phycobilins (phycoerytherin, phycocyanin) are the major groups of pigments that are associated with photosynthesis. Plants mostly use chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenes, and xanthophyll as their photosynthetic pigments.
Anthocyanidins are water-soluble pigments that provide color to plants, mainly shades of red, purple, and blue. Hundreds of anthocyanidins have been identified, and some of the most common are:Cyanidin, found in most red berries such as bilberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, elderberry, hawthorn, loganberry and raspeberry, but also in other fruits including apples, pears, peaches and plums, fight cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and free radicals.Delphinidin, found in bilberries, blueberries, cranberries, black beans, cow peas, and eggplant, is a powerful antioxidant that can protect your body's cells from damaging free radicals, and may prevent inflammation, atherosclerosis, cancer, and heart disease.Malvidin, found in red grapes, cranberries, blueberries, and black rice, may kill cancer cells.Pelargonidin, found in chokeberries, elderberries, raspberries, strawberries, and radishes, acts as an antioxidant and protects your body's cells from dangerous free radicals, keeps your heart healthy, prevents cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.Peonidin, found in raw cranberries, blueberries, plums, grapes, cherries, black rice, and black bananas, is a powerful antioxidant that fights damaging free radicals, and may fight inflammation and cancer.Petunidin, found in bilberries, blueberries, black beans, black currants, and cow peas, is a powerful antioxidant and may keep your blood healthy, and prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
We all know that eating more fruits and vegetables have many health benefits, such as a reduction in the risk of developing such health conditions as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers, but too often we choose familiar foods which may be bland in both color and nutrient quality. When eating your “Five a Day”, make an effort to include a variety of rich colors which provide healthful antioxidants, flavonoids, and vitamins.Explaining Plant PigmentsThe color of a fruit or vegetable not only makes the produce attractive, but those plant pigments also contain compounds that are beneficial for health. These are often called phytonutrients. Each color has its own specific benefit, which is why it is important to eat a variety of colors each day.RedRed fruits and vegetables contain two phytonutrients – lycopene and anthocyanin. Lycopene is best known as a component of tomatoes that has been linked with a reduction of prostate cancer risk, but it is also present in watermelon, pink grapefruit, papayas, and red bell pepper. Anthocyanins are antioxidants found in berries (strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries), cherries, and beets.OrangeOrange fruits and vegetables get their color from pigments called carotenoids. Beta-carotene is the most well-known of these, which is found in produce such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which is beneficial to both heart and eye health. Other orange fruits and vegetables to consider include oranges, apricots, cantaloupe, and peaches which are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient known for its immune system benefits.YellowYellow pigments also come from carotenoid compounds. Choose popular yellow-colored fruits and vegetables such as golden delicious or braeburn apples, pineapple, lemons, squashes such as summer squash or spaghetti squash, and sweet corn. Note: while bananas have a yellow peel, the actual fruit is white (see below).GreenChlorophyll is the pigment that makes most vegetables green. Other healthful components of green fruits and vegetables include lutein, zeaxanthin, and indoles, all of which have anti-cancer protection benefits. In addition to popular “greens” such as spinach, collards, and lettuce, try artichokes, broccoli, cucumbers, cabbage, green grapes, honeydew melon, kiwi, limes, peas, and zucchini squash.BlueAnthocyanins are not only found in red-colored fruits and vegetables, but also give blue and purple produce their color. These antioxidants may help reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease. Try blackberries, blueberries, plums, prunes, purple grapes, and eggplant with your next meal.WhiteWhite isn’t exactly a “rainbow” color, and many think of white fruits and vegetables as being void of nutrients but this isn’t the case. White produce contain pigments called anthoxanthins which many help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Popular white fruits and vegetables are potatoes, bananas, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, and parsnips.For more on how to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, also read “How to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables” on Topicologist.[photo=http://s3.amazonaws.com/tp-article-images/4072d181448e5323f2c7f1cdb5d53f98.jpg][video=]
Fighting Disease sounds serious, and it is, but that doesn’t mean it has to always be hard work. In fact there are some ways to ward off cancer and other serious diseases that could actually be fun and easy.If preventing some possible disease body invaders were as easy as preventing an invasion from evil space aliens by whistling a happy tune, wouldn’t we just do it every day? Being happy and having a positive attitude certainly is one way to stay healthy, and recent scientific research is also proving the old adage – “You are what you eat!”A “Justice League of Health”Scientists the world over have found that certain nutrients have been proven to help in fighting off cancers and other diseases and even reversing them. These nutrients are not drugs, or medicines, or some kinds of rare items you would have to travel to China to get. They can be found right in your supermarket in all kinds of simple and fun to eat foods. In fact, just like super heroes that fight off other kinds of attackers and dress in colorful capes and tights, so most of these foods are the most brightly colored ones. And like a “Justice League of Health”, these powerful disease-fighting foods are even often referred to as The Super Foods. Sorry we aren’t talking about M&M’s! But super foods are a rainbow of red, blue, purple, yellow, orange and green goodness that should be included in a day’s meals, snacks, nibbles, bites, and gobbles. Researchers say that adding at least 10 of the most recognized super foods to your diet is the surest way to improve your heath, and help ward off cancers and other diseases—for your kids, you, your whole family.Rainbow RichnessNow getting back to the rainbow of colors—the cool thing is that each color, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables, has it’s own effects on your body and health. Each different color in a food relates to different phytonutrients. These nutrients have powerful antioxidants, which are what can protect the body from damaging effects.Health and wellness experts recommend that you try to choose 3 different colors to include in your meal menu plans.Natural plant pigments called “lycopene” or “anthocyanins” color Red fruits and vegetables.These are some examples of the red group: Red apples, Beets, Red cabbage, Cherries, Cranberries, Pink grapefruit, Red grapes, Red peppers, Pomegranates, Red potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon.Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables are usually colored by natural plant pigments called "carotenoids.”Some examples of the orange/yellow group include: Sweet potatoes, Pumpkins, Carrots, Yellow apples, Apricots, Butternut squash, Cantaloupe, Grapefruit, Lemons, Mangoes, Nectarines, Oranges, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Yellow peppers, Persimmons, Pineapple, Rutabagas, Yellow summer or winter squash, Sweet corn, Tangerines, Yellow tomatoes, Yellow watermelonGreen fruits and vegetables are colored by natural plant pigment called "chlorophyll."Some examples of the green group include: Green apples, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Bok Choi, Kale, Spinach, Green Peppers, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Green grapes, Honeydew melon, Kiwi, Lettuce, Limes, Green onions, Peas, ZucchiniBlue/purple fruits and vegetables are colored by natural plant pigments called "anthocyanins." These are some examples of the blue/purple group: Blackberries, Blueberries, Eggplant, Figs, Juneberries, Plums, Prunes, Purple grapes, RaisinsAnd just like the white hats worn by cowboys in the old movies -even though they’re not vibrant, there are some white foods that are the good guys too! White fruits and vegetables are colored by pigments called "anthoxanthins." Some examples of the white group include: Bananas, Cauliflower, Garlic, Ginger, Jicama, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, TurnipsSweet TreatsBut what about the fun? Yes, the super great foods talked about so far have been mainly fruits and vegetables, which are juicy and tasty and can be prepared in some fun ways -- but there are other foods, as well that are excellent choices to help in disease protection and two are even treats!One you will truly love, is dark chocolate—the darkest, deepest color reflects the most concentration of cocoa, and the best antioxidant protection.And the other is honey, another sweet delight, the more deeply toned and brown, the more concentration of antioxidants it contains.Fun and GamesHow can your family get into a wider exploration of all those juicy colors? Here are some food games some moms have used with great success.With a little extra to go toward your food bill for the week, a combined food, fun and nutritional event is a trip to grocery, or preferably a farmers’ market, and with a challenge, choose a specified number of the most colorful and unusual variety of fruits and vegetables possible. At home, a kind of blank canvas can be a tortilla or pizza crust, for the whole family or individual ones, to be filled with a palate of colorful cuisine! Create the most colorful, imaginative dish with the new found ingredients. Bake this food art, and enjoy the tasting.Who can guess the Fruit or Veggie?Ahead of time, prepare several choices of vegetables or fruits from the color list—cook them or raw as needed. You might want to use one old standby, but choose some new ones. You can make this a blind challenge, tasting and guessing the color, and/or name. Whoever can make the most correct choices wins an appropriate healthy food prize.And while the family is guessing or preparing the pizza, whip up a batch of red beet chips…Many a mom serves these to the kids who munch them up in minutes.Oven Baked Beet ChipsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Best to line your baking sheet with foil. Peel 2 or 4 beets and thinly slice with a food processor or sharp knife. . Toss in a bowl with olive oil and salt and then spread on your baking sheet.Bake 20 minutes until crisp, then turn over and finish baking another 20-25 minutes. Make sure to watch them near the end as the high sugar content can make these chips burn quickly.