What specific antioxidant compound is highly concentrated in purple Brussels sprouts due to their dark pigmentation?
Anthocyanins
The defining characteristic that sets purple Brussels sprouts apart nutritionally from their green relatives is the presence of anthocyanins. These compounds are responsible for imparting the red, blue, or purple coloring seen in various fruits and vegetables. In the context of the sprouts, the darker pigmentation directly correlates with a higher concentration of these specific plant pigments. Anthocyanins function as potent antioxidants, meaning that by consuming the purple variety, an individual receives the baseline nutritional benefits shared by all Brussels sprouts, plus an additional, tangible antioxidant support derived specifically from these pigments, which is generally lacking to the same degree in the standard green variety.
