NEW YORK, Dec 9 — News that the Pantone Color Institute, the global authority on colour trends, has chosen Ultra Violet as the colour of 2018, is as good a time as any to pay homage to the virtues of purple foods in the plant kingdom.

Trendspotters at Pantone describe their hue of ultra violet as "dramatically provocative and thoughtful." Long associated with the mysteries of the cosmos, over the years, enigmatic purples have also come to symbolise counterculture, unconventionality, individuality and emotion, says Pantone.

Think icons like Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix. 

The Pantone declaration follows a 2016 prediction from organic retailer Whole Foods, which predicted purple foods to trend in 2017.  

"The power of purple goes beyond the vibrant colour and often indicates nutrient density and antioxidants," reads the report.

Indeed, a good rule of thumb when shopping the produce aisle is to remember that the darker the skin colour, the higher the antioxidants. 

The compound believed to lend foods like eggplant, red cabbage and grapes their purple, blueish hue, anthocyanin, is also associated with a variety of health claims, including lower blood pressure, lower levels of the "good" cholesterol HDL, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. 

Here's a short brainstorming list of purple foods with anthocyanins to include in your diet for 2018, the colour of ultra violet: 

Red cabbage  Red onions  Grapes  Eggplant  Figs  Blueberries  Purple artichoke  Purple carrots  Purple sweet potatoes  Acai  Purple corn  Elderberries  Beets  Purple cauliflower  Blackberries  Plums — AFP-Relaxnews