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Studies are building a solid base of evidence supporting the antioxidant properties of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are versatile flavonoid pigments found in red/purplish fruits and vegetables. They serve as key antioxidants within the plants. Over 300 structurally distinct anthocyanins have been identified in nature.

While many studies have looked at anthocyanins in relation to their proposed cancer-fighting properties, new research has found that anthocyanins may help maintain healthy levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body.

That could wind up being quite a revelation since high cholesterol affects 42 million Americans and 63 million more have borderline high cholesterol. According to the Lee Swanson report, scientists from Sun Yat-Sen University in China are researching anthocyanins.

In other news, higher blood levels of vitamin D have been linked to a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome and better levels of "good" cholesterol.