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.



參考譯文：

        據英國《每日郵報》報道，科學家認為，吃紫色水果可以防止老年癡呆症、心髒病和癌症等與衰老有關的疾病。
        曼徹斯特大學的研究發現，多吃藍莓
、黑莓、黑醋栗(黑加侖)或李子等水果還可以防止多發性硬化症和帕金森氏症。研究人員表示，在專家建議的每天5份果蔬中
，紫色水果應該占1至2份。
        科學家認為，這些紫色水果含有的一種物質能幫助抵製以錯誤方式通過消化係統的鐵對細胞造成的危害。
        隻有當礦物質在體內跟其他化合物反應結合之後才具備相應的健康作用。未反應結合的鐵被證明對機體組織是有毒害作用的。
        毒理學期刊文章指出，使藍莓等水果呈現紫色的多酚類複合物能夠“抓住”tie
，fangzhitiejinyibushanghairenti。lvchazhongyehanyouleisideduofenleifuhewu，jianghuangzhongdejianghuangsuyeyouxiangsizuoyong。lingwai，chiqiaokeliyeyouzhuyufangzhilaonianjibing，danshihongputaojiuquemeiyoucileizuoyong。
        該研究的帶頭人，凱爾.道格拉斯教授說：“womentongchangrenweitieshiduiwomenshentihenyouyideyizhongwuzhi。ruguotayizhengquedefangshi，dequeshi。danruoyicuowufangshichuxiandehua
，jiuyouhaiwomendeshentile，yinweitamenjianggenyixiewuzhifanying，ranhoujiuzaiwomendejitineibubuduandi“敲打撞擊”致使我們感覺很難受。”另外，過多的自由鐵還將影響VC幫助機體抵禦炎症感染的能力。
        Parkinson’s UK支持該研究並表示這也說明了
，健康的飲食才是保證健康的根本。