Eating purple-colored fruit can ward off age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart problems and cancer, scientists believe, the Daily Mail reported.

The odds of developing multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease may also be reduced by consuming blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants or plums, according to a study by the University of Manchester. Researchers say one or two of the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables should be purple fruit.

It is thought that a compound in the fruit helps fight the harmful effects of iron, which can damage cells if it makes its way through the digestive system in the wrong form.

Although we are often told of the healthy effects of the mineral, benefits are only felt if it reacts with other comounds in the body. Iron that does not react can prove poisonous to tissue.

Compounds called polyphenols that make blueberries and other fruits purple are able to grab iron and keep it out of harm’s way. Green tea contains a similar compound, as does curcumin, the key ingredient of the curry spice turmeric. Even chocolate may help but unfortunately red wine does not have the healthy effect. The journal Archives of Toxicology reports.

Lead researcher Professor Douglas Kell said:”We normally think of iron as something that is good for us. And, in the right form,it is. But in the wrong form it is not good for you because what it does is react with things that are always knocking around in the body to make something very nasty indeed.’’ Too much free iron could also stop vitamin C from helping the body fend off infections.
Parkinson’s UK welcomed the research, saying that it reinforced the message that a healthy diet is essential to stay healthy.



参考译文：

        据英国《每日邮报》报道，科学家认为，吃紫色水果可以防止老年痴呆症、心脏病和癌症等与衰老有关的疾病。
        曼彻斯特大学的研究发现，多吃蓝莓、黑莓、黑醋栗(黑加仑)或李子等水果还可以防止多发性硬化症和帕金森氏症。研究人员表示，在专家建议的每天5份果蔬中，紫色水果应该占1至2份。
        科学家认为，这些紫色水果含有的一种物质能帮助抵制以错误方式通过消化系统的铁对细胞造成的危害。
        只有当矿物质在体内跟其他化合物反应结合之后才具备相应的健康作用。未反应结合的铁被证明对机体组织是有毒害作用的。
        毒理学期刊文章指出，使蓝莓等水果呈现紫色的多酚类复合物能够“抓住”铁，防止铁进一步伤害人体。绿茶中也含有类似的多酚类复合物，姜黄中的姜黄素也有相似作用。另外，吃巧克力也有助于防止老年疾病，但是红葡萄酒却没有此类作用。
        该研究的带头人，凯尔.道格拉斯教授说：“我们通常认为铁是对我们身体很有益的一种物质。如果它以正确的方式，的确是。但若以错误方式出现的话，就有害我们的身体了，因为它们将跟一些物质反应，然后就在我们的机体内部不断地“敲打撞击”致使我们感觉很难受。”另外，过多的自由铁还将影响VC帮助机体抵御炎症感染的能力。
        Parkinson’s UK支持该研究并表示这也说明了，健康的饮食才是保证健康的根本。