What Is Vegetable & Fruit Color Pigments?

Pigments

• Fruit and vegetable plants produce pigments, based on the genetic programming of a particular plant species. Blueberries, blackberries, eggplants and purple grapes produce anthocyanin pigments. Carotenoids are the pigments that give yellow and orange produce, such as apricots, cantaloupes, carrots and mangoes, their characteristic hue. Lycopene is found in tomatoes, radishes, watermelon and other red fruits and vegetables. Green vegetables, such as cucumbers, peppers, broccoli and spinach, contain chlorophyll and sometimes lutein. Bananas, mushrooms, potatoes, parsnips and cauliflower are colored by anthoxanthins.

Health Benefits

• Each pigment provides health benefits when consumed. Anthoxanthins, for example, help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, possibly reducing the risk of heart disease and stomach cancer. Anthocyanins have antioxidants that protect cells from damage, reducing the risk of cancer and improving memory. Chlorophyll and its related pigments improve eye health and reduce the risk of birth defects. Carotenoid, in the form of beta-carotene, can reduce heart disease and cancer and improve immune functioning. Lycopene can reduce the risk of cancer, particularly prostrate cancer.

Considerations

• In a garden setting, pigments develop best when fruit and vegetable plants are given adequate growing conditions and care. Almost all fruits and vegetables benefit from at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Evenly moist, fertile soil also encourages vigorous plant growth and color. Pigment development in some plants, such as tomatoes, is controlled primarily by temperatures and the production of a hormone called ethylene. Tomatoes ripen best when temperatures are between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the thermostat rises above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the plants stop producing lycopene and carotene, and tomatoes may not ripen past a yellowish-green or orange color. Pigment production resumes with the arrival of cooler fall temperatures.

Use

• Nutritional needs vary, depending on a person's age, sex and activity level, but most Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Strive to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables each day for maximum health benefits. Wash produce thoroughly and limit peeling when possible to preserve nutrients. Serve produce immediately for maximum nutrition.