Purple carrots are particularly rich in anthocyanins, which are antioxidants shown to protect against heart disease, mental decline, and diabetes. Polyphenols have been shown to promote health and reduce your risk of heart disease, mental decline, and certain types of cancer ( 12). In fact, purple carrots provide, on average, nine times more polyphenol antioxidants than carrots of other colors ( 11). Poor blood flow and inadequate blood vessel function are common causes of heart disease - which is why improving these risk factors may lower your risk of certain heart conditions.Īnother large study in more than 34,000 women associated eating 0.2 mg of anthocyanins per day with a significantly reduced risk of heart disease ( 7).Īnthocyanins have also been shown to protect against mental decline.Ī review of seven studies demonstrated that certain mental outcomes - including verbal learning and memory - improved in children, adults, and older people after eating anthocyanin-rich foods ( 8).Īdditionally, population studies suggest that an increased intake of anthocyanin-rich foods lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes ( 9, 10).Īside from anthocyanins, purple carrots contain other polyphenol antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Reducing these compounds may lower your risk of certain conditions like heart disease ( 5).įor example, a review of 24 studies showed that people who eat anthocyanin-rich diets had significantly improved blood flow and better blood vessel function than those who did not ( 6). In addition, like other other purple fruits and vegetables, they contain potent antioxidants called anthocyanins, which benefit your health.Īnthocyanins are polyphenol antioxidants that have many impressive health benefits.ĭiets high in anthocyanin-rich foods - such as purple carrots - may protect against certain health conditions, especially those related to inflammation.Īnthocyanins act as anti-inflammatory agents by reducing potentially harmful compounds like pro-inflammatory cytokines. Purple carrots are loaded with nutrients like fiber and potassium. Oxidative stress has been linked to health conditions such as cancer, mental decline, heart disease, and aging ( 4). What makes purple carrots nutritionally unique is their content of the antioxidants anthocyanins.Īnthocyanins belong to the polyphenol family of antioxidants and are found in purple fruits and vegetables like blackberries, grapes, purple potatoes, purple cabbage, and purple carrots ( 3).Īntioxidants like anthocyanins help protect your body from oxidative stress, which refers to an imbalance between reactive molecules called free radicals and antioxidants in your body. NutritionĪll carrots - independent of their color - are packed with a variety of nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin A, and certain B vitamins ( 2).Īdditionally, they’re relatively low in calories, with 1 cup (128 grams) of raw carrots delivering just 52 calories. The Eastern-type carrots have been largely replaced by the orange Western types that are common in today’s grocery stores. Red and purple carrots are considered Eastern varieties, while yellow, orange, or white carrots are known as Western-type carrots. The modern, orange carrot likely originated from a new breed of yellow carrots, which were developed as a result of a genetic mutation. In fact, the first evidence of carrots being used as a food crop was in the Iranian Plateau and the Persian Empire in the 10th century AD - these ancient carrots were purple and white ( 1). Though most people envision an orange vegetable when picturing a carrot, carrots were originally purple or white.
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