Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable from the Brassica family. Apart from green and purple, there are two other colors of cauliflower. The more colorful a cauliflower is, the more antioxidants it contains.
Researchers didn't create purple cauliflower through genetic modification. They used a slow process of selective breeding to grow them. It has a nutty and sweet flavor profile, which varies from the bitter flavor profile of white cauliflower.
This purple vegetable contains vitamin C, folate, calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. It is also a great source of fiber as it helps regulate the digestive system. Purple-colored cauliflower will lose its color if boiled too long.
Purple kale has serrated and ruffled purple leaves- a cruciferous vegetable from the same family as cabbage and Brussels sprouts, Brassicaceae family. Kale contains fiber, calcium, vitamins K and C, iron, and other nutritional benefits.
These nutrients can improve your bone health, digestion, and heart health. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin antioxidants that could reduce the risk of eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
Tomatoes are a staple in meals because they offer many nutritional benefits. In 2022, the USDA approved the sale of purple tomatoes. Researchers created it with genetic modification.
Researchers created it because they wanted a tomato with a good source of nutrients and anthocyanins. They believe the existence of these tomatoes rich in nutrients will reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
Scientists suspect it could be one of the best sources of antioxidants among fruits and vegetables. An example of a purple tomato is the indigo rose. Researchers at Oregon State University created it using conventional crossing and selection techniques.
Purple lettuce is a low-calorie vegetable with a dark purple shade. It contains enough water to keep your body hydrated and reduces the risk of heart disease. It can help lower blood pressure. Also, purple lettuce has vitamins A and K.
Research shows that purple lettuce has the potential to prevent metabolic disorders. During the research, they found that it reduced weight gain by reducing the accumulation of fat mass and increasing energy output.
This purple vegetable also improves insulin sensitivity and lipid profile. Overall, purple lettuce is a nutritious addition to a healthy diet.
The first fruit on our list of purple fruits is passion fruit. It is a tropical fruit native to South America, Australia, South Africa, and India. There are many species of this purple variety. This purple fruit with a soft pulp and seeds in a hard rind has a lot of antioxidants and nutrients.
Passion fruit has a significant amount of fiber, niacin, potassium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce cellular stress. Lastly, passion fruit keeps blood pressure stable. It doesn’t increase blood sugar after consumption, making it the purple fruit suitable for diabetic people3.
Acai berries grow on the acai palm tree, a plant native to Central and South America. It is an important food source for the indigenous people of the Amazon area. The fruit has a deep purple color, and edible seeds make up 80% of the fruit.
Consuming these purple fruits can improve brain health and cognitive function, thus reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease. It contains anthocyanin antioxidants that help reduce the risk of heart disease. Acai berries can prevent cancer cell growth by inducing the death of cancer cells and preventing cancer cell invasion1.
Blueberries are among the most commercial berries in the world. Their colors range from indigo to dark purple. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a cup of fresh blueberries contains 0.41 mg of iron, 14.4 mg of vitamin C, 3.6 g of fiber, 21.5 g of carbohydrates, 1.1 g of protein, and 8.88 mg of calcium.
Blueberries have a high concentration of antioxidants known as polyphenols, anthocyanin, and flavonoids. Adding this purple fruit to your meals can improve your health drastically. Research shows it may improve symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and diabetes.
Plums are sweet and juicy fruits belonging to the same family as apricots, peaches, and nectarines. There are various colors of plums, but we’ll be discussing plums with purple flesh. There are different ways to consume plums. Some turn them into jam, eat them raw, or make dried plums for easy preservation.
The indigenous people of Australia use plum fruits and some parts of plum trees to treat problems like mosquito bites, skin sores, flu, colds, and headaches. Plums are rich in Vitamin that help your body heal, heal blood vessels, and build muscle. This purple fruit also improves digestive health by preventing constipation with its natural sugar alcohol acting as a natural laxative.
Purple star apples are also known as caimito or cainito. The apple got its name from the shape formed by the seeds inside it. Star apples are delicious. They have a pulpy and jelly-like texture. Some compare its taste to applesauce and grapes grown in tropical areas.
The star apple is a close relative of egg fruit, mamey, sapote, and sapodilla. You can purchase purple star apples at Hispanic and Asian markets in the United States. They are also available at farmer's markets in areas that grow these purple fruits.
Mangosteen is a small fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. It has a purple color and juicy white insides. People from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines eat it raw like other fruits, juice it, and use it as traditional medicine.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to get mangosteen in the United States because the mangosteen tree needs to grow in tropical areas and requires lots of time to mature. This purple fruit is beneficial for human consumption because it contains diverse nutrients and can reduce inflammation and other health risks.
Purple grapes are native to regions with cold temperatures. They have thick skin, many seeds, and a strong flavor. Concord grapes are rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant responsible for their purple color. Most people usually consume them in juice and jam forms.
International Orangutan Day highlights the direct effects of our actions on the gentle giants of the treetops. Their actual populations have dwindled over the past 60 years, with over half being lost largely due to the encroachment of the palm oil industry in their native habitats like Borneo and Sumatra.
Worrying still, we have to consider that their numbers might be lower than what we know, with the rapid clearing of forests for palm oil plantations. This day serves as a call to action - to individuals, communities, and policymakers - to seriously address the dire situation these forest dwellers face in their homes.
By observing this day, we're reminded of the interplay of different life forms on our planet and why biodiversity matters for the health of our Earth.
Fun Facts about Orangutans
Orangutans are the world's largest arboreal mammals. They spend 90% of their time in trees, using their long arms to swing from branch to branch.
These red apes can use tools in the wild, such as sticks, to extract honey or insects from trees and learn sign language.
Female orangutans have the longest interbirth interval of any land mammal. Female orangutans give birth to one baby at a time and wait up to eight years between pregnancies.
In its latest reports, the IUCN Red List continued to categorize the three orangutan species (Bornean, Sumatran, Tapanuli) as Critically Endangered.
The Bornean Orangutan population has experienced a devastating decrease of over 60% from 1950 to 2010, with a predicted extra decline of 22% by 2025, marking a total loss of more than 82% within only three generations1.
The estimated population of Sumatran Orangutans is 13,846, and 98.5% live in protected areas2.
Since 1985, the population of the Tapanuli Orangutan—the least numerous of all great ape species—has alarmingly dwindled from an estimated 1,489 to less than 800 in 2016, with projections dipping to just 257 individuals by 20603.
Conservation Initiatives
The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintroducing orangutans into the wild. They also work on habitat conservation and education initiatives to raise awareness about the plight of orangutans.
Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) conserves orangutans and their habitat. OFI runs an orphan care center in Borneo and conducts extensive research on orangutans.
The Orangutan Project (TOP) protects orangutans and preserves their habitat. They fund projects focusing on rescue and rehabilitation, habitat protection, and community partnerships.
Orangutan Outreach protects orangutans through rescue, rehabilitation, release programs, public awareness campaigns, and rainforest conservation initiatives.
The UNEP launched the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) in 2001 to ensure the long-term survival of orangutans and other great apes and their natural habitat in both Africa and Asia.
In January 2014, Matthew Glover and Jane Land launched Veganuary, a non-profit initiative encouraging people to avoid eating animal products for 31 days.
Their motivation was their love for animals, concern for the environment, and curiosity about the potential benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.
Veganuary soon gained global attention and has become a popular annual challenge worldwide.
In 2020, over 400,000 individuals from 193 countries joined Veganuary, showing the increasing impact and popularity of the movement. The challenge has grown significantly since starting with only 3,300 early adopters.
It has also influenced companies to acknowledge the growing popularity of veganism. During Veganuary 2019, businesses introduced more than 500 new vegan-friendly products and menus, seizing the opportunity to capitalize on the trend.
Veganuary has become a powerful force that redirects the food industry toward a more animal-friendly and environmentally-friendly world.
According to a study, switching to a vegan lifestyle could reduce your food-related carbon footprint by 73%.
According to the World Bank, about 91% of Amazon rainforest deforestation is attributed to animal agriculture; grazing livestock is causing a significant loss of forest cover and biodiversity.
Additionally, producing animal-based products requires significantly more water than growing a similar amount of plant foods. This is a concern amid the growing issue of water scarcity.
Despite producing enough grain to feed billions of people, we allocate a significant portion to feed livestock instead of people. By choosing plant-based meals, we could use our resources more efficiently and address world hunger1.
Sign up for Veganuary today to receive daily resources such as cookbooks, meal plans, and nutritional advice.
Before going vegan, consult a registered dietitian or your health care provider.
Watch documentaries such as Cowspiracy to learn where our animal foods and products come from.
Start your plant-based eating journey by taking a trip to the supermarket. Buy basic vegan alternatives such as tofu and plant-based milks, and make your favorite dishes cruelty-free.
Share your learnings and experiences on social media to spread awareness. Post a picture of you eating plant-based dishes or share facts from credible sources. Click on our vegan quotes as a great place to start.
Aside from grocery shopping, make changes in your other shopping habits. From food wraps to hiking boots, many vegan options exist.
The Central Chimpanzee, a resident of moist lowland forests and swamps, has a broad geographical range from the Ubangi River in the east to the Sanaga River in northwest Cameroon.
This type of chimpanzee shifts its diet with population and seasons. Ripe fruit, young leaves, bark, and stems are prime choices; consumption of mammals, including other primates, is occasional. Community sizes can reach 64-71 individuals.
Unfortunately, the Central Chimpanzee is an endangered species3, with threats of poaching and disease casting long shadows.
They exhibit a slow life history with a generation time estimated at 25 years and, hence, are unable to sustain high mortality levels. The persistent poaching problem across Central Africa likely implies unnoticed but significant population declines.
The Eastern Chimpanzee is a significant subspecies extensively researched by Dr. Jane Goodall at Gombe Stream National Park. The natural habitat of these chimpanzees spans from the southeast Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to west Uganda and Tanzania.
They are primarily found in lowland tropical forests and forest galleries extending to savanna woodlands. Oscillating between various diets based on the season, half includes ripe fruit, but leaves, bark, and stems also present crucial sustenance. Eastern chimpanzees, being social creatures, form large communities, numbering between 20 to 150 individuals.
Sadly, Eastern Chimpanzees are endangered2, suffering a significant population reduction over the past two to three decades, particularly in the DRC. The driving factors include rampant poaching, habitat destruction, degradation, disease outbreaks, mining, and the aggravating effects of climate change.
