Life is too short not to be fully "turned on." The Daily Turn On! energizes all aspects of "you." Every Monday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will provide you with ideas and tips to awaken your mind, your body and your life as you journey through each day of the week! Check in each Monday to get your tip for Turning On every day of your life.

Purple it up babe. Yup. Drink it up. Eat it up. And you may just be thinner, look younger, get healthier and live longer than "non-purple eaters." Is it important to ramp up these foods in your diet? You bet! Read on for some pretty cool reasons you need to include more fruits, veggies, herbs and even flowers rich in anthocyanins in your daily diet:

• Foods containing these natural red, purple, pink and blue pigments have been found to be powerful in fighting free radicals in the body. What do free radicals do? Cause disease, increase the aging process and cause a myriad of health problems. Foods with purple power are known "super foods!"
• Anthocyanins are involved in neurogenesis and have been found to enhance neuronal signaling capabilities and improve communication among neurons. Blueberries are known to enhance memory function. The blue pigments protect the brain and help neurons!

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When it comes to clothes, black is supposed to be slimming. But, when it comes to tortillas (yes, you read that right ... I said tortillas), it seems that blue may be the slimmer choice. That's because blue tortillas evidently have far less starch and a lower GI (glycemic index) rating than the more traditional white corn tortilla.

The glycemic index ranks foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. The way it works is basically like this: If a food ranks high on the GI, it probably contains simple, fast-acting carbohydrates (think pasta, white rice, white bread, candy, etc.) that, over time, will lead to weight loss. By contrast, if a certain type of food ranks low on the GI, it likely contains slower-digesting, complex carbohydrates (or, it could simply not contain many carbohydrates at all). Examples of low GI foods included sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and nuts. These types of carbs will provide your body with the energy it needs, but when eaten in moderation, will not lead to an increase in weight (that is of course, unless the food is full of unhealthy fats).

As for the blue tortilla, it turns out that the coloring itself is due to the presence of anthocyanins in the corn. These are the same heart healthy compounds found in many types of berries and in red wine. And, as mentioned earlier, the blue tortilla ranks much lower on the GI than its white corn tortilla counterpart.

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Black food is all the rage in Japan, and the craze is lapping at the shores of the United States. Historically, the Japanese sought foods such as black vinegar, black soybeans and black mushrooms for their rich taste. But now deeply-hued foods are recognized for their nutritional value. Black foods are mixed in many modern Japanese beverages -- big sellers include black vinegar tonics, black soy milk and black soybean tea -- all touted for their health benefits.

Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidents, making blueberries blue, eggplants purple and blackberries nearly black. Studies have shown their anti-inflammatory qualities provide health effects against cancer, aging, inflammation and neurological diseases, to name a few. A recent study found anthocyanins in blue corn aided in slowing the spread of human colon cancer cells. Traditional Chinese medicine associates the color black with helping the kidneys.

Chicago's May Street Market is currently offering black lentils and sauteed black kale with one pork dish. Its owner, Alexander Cheswick, acknowledges black foods have a sexy quality, contrasting nicely on a white plate. Rich taste, healthy and sexy -- wide marketing appeal to Americans. Black beans and black rice with black carrots, anyone?

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If you absolutely must have the plate of nachos, then up the nutritional value by using blue corn tortilla chips instead of yellow or white. Recent research out of Mexico suggests that blue corn has more protein and a lower glycemic index than other chips, making a great choice for dieters and diabetics. What's more, according to this article at WebMD, the coloring of the blue corn chip comes from anthocyanins, which are also found in red wine and berries.

Take a small handful of those chips and dip them in this homemade hummus, and you'll have yourself a crunchy, protein packed, healthy snack!

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