Black is the new color of Health!

As we all know, it’s important to incorporate a variety of colors in your diet to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs – red apples, yellow sweet peppers, orange carrots, leafy greens. So why not black foods?

In many parts of the world, black foods have been eaten for centuries for their rich flavors. It’s only been in recent years that the trend for black foods has gained popularity, growing to an estimated $500 million market in Japan in 2004. With several black food products being granted FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Use) status in Japan, the trend has moved from flavor to function. Here are some of the more popular black foods and their nutritional advantages:

Black soybeans
Like their yellow and white counterparts, black soybeans have been shown in studies to be high in isoflavones. Several studies have shown that these natural plant hormones may have some health benefit, including protection against breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopausal symptoms, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

Black vinegar
Chinese black vinegar is an aged product made from rice, wheat, millet, or sorghum; in Japan, it is produced from rice. Acetic acid in black vinegar may help in lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and lowering cholesterol.

Black sesame seeds
In addition to being a dramatic garnish in dishes, hulled black sesame seeds are high in calcium, protein, iron, and magnesium. They are also a good source of essential fatty acids and aid in blocking cholesterol production.

Black rice
Black rice contains more vitamin B, niacin, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc than white rice. And unlike white rice, black rice is rich in anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. Anthocyanins are also found in fruits and vegetables and give them their rich colors and antioxidant properties.

So while research has proven that putting foods in black packages implies that what’s inside is more elegant and special, we now know the truth – it's what’s inside that matters!