Among the variety of vegetable products, sometimes on store shelves you can find carrots of an unusual purple color for this root vegetable. Many consider such a vegetable a “PR move” of breeders and managers and bypass it. And here it is wrong. After all, such carrots were originally exactly purple. This type of carrot has a much higher nutritional value. Along with its useful and medicinal properties, it can bring an original and especially sweet taste to familiar vegetable dishes.
What is purple carrot, how is it useful, what it contains and what benefits it can bring, read on.
Purple carrot description
Unusual carrots are only outwardly purple in color, but inside, when cut and peeled, they are still orange. This type of carrot is considered the “progenitor” of modern orange varieties.
The plant belongs to the umbrella family familiar to carrots. The cultivation of wild carrots dates back to ancient times. Although, starting in the 17th century with the appearance of orange carrots, the dark original varieties have disappeared into oblivion, becoming in the understanding of consumers a genetically modified food product. True, this is a misconception.
The homeland of this type of carrot, like everything else and others, is the territory of modern Turkey. They began to grow it there 5000 years ago. Large varieties of carrots were already grown by the Greeks in 65 BC.
When the Dutch developed larger varieties of orange carrots in the early 18th century, they gradually replaced purple and white.
Currently, interest in the purple carrot has reappeared. As scientists have found, it contains 28 times more anthocyanins. Therefore, today, in some stores and supermarkets, you can already see purple carrots on sale, which are becoming more and more popular.
Why purple carrots are useful composition
Unfortunately, this type of carrot is not yet massively grown. Although the vegetable contains a sufficient amount of useful elements (a unique vitamin and mineral complex), which should not be forgotten.
These include:
- Water (makes 88%);
- Vegetable proteins;
- Fats;
- Carbohydrates (represented by mono- and disaccharides, as well as starch);
- Fiber (insoluble dietary fiber);
- Ash products;
- Organic acids;
- Anthocyanins (or phenolic compounds), including lutein;
- Vitamin A (retinol);
- Provitamin A (or beta-carotene);
- B vitamins (niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic and pantothenic acid);
- ascorbic acid (antioxidant vitamin C);
- alpha group tocopherol (vitamin E);
- biotin (vitamin H);
- blood clotting phylloquinone (vitamin K);
- a huge and varied amount of minerals: magnesium, manganese, sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, chromium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, iodine, copper, zinc, selenium, boron, fluorine, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium, aluminum, lithium and nickel …
The calorie content of 100 grams of raw carrots is about 35 kilocalories.
The energy ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the product is 15/3/79%.
Useful properties of purple carrots
Anthocyanins give carrots purple color. These compounds are antioxidants found in many foods, but mostly in those that are dark in color, such as red grapes, red cabbage, pomegranates, blueberries, and others.
Antioxidants suppress the harmful oxidative effects of free radicals and help the body get rid of toxic, carcinogenic and other harmful substances. they prevent premature aging and reduce the risk of many serious diseases, including diseases of the heart, blood vessels, cancer, diabetes mellitus.
Anthocyanins can help relieve pain and pressure in veins from varicose veins. Again, their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to improve circulation must be considered.
Purple carrots activate certain proteins that promote the healing of damaged blood vessel walls, which improves overall cardiovascular health.
Of course, purple carrots will not completely cure you of this ailment, but it can significantly alleviate its symptoms.
Anthocyanins play a significant role in preventing and reducing the risk of malignant neoplasms. Anthocyanins reduce the risk of colon cancer. Do not forget that, like orange carrots, it contains a lot of dietary fiber, which helps to cleanse the colon walls in a timely manner and prevents the formation of constipation.
The benefits of purple carrots
Due to its unique chemical composition, the ancient Greeks and Romans noted many beneficial properties behind purple carrots. Its benefits are confirmed by studies of modern scientists. Such studies were carried out by specialists from the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Maryland. Based on the results of their tests, several main points can be distinguished:
- Inhibition (slowing down) the growth of colon cancer cells;
- Prevention of constipation;
- Getting rid of stomach disorders;
- Antineoplastic effect on the entire body;
- General anti-inflammatory effect (removal of inflammatory processes in rheumatoid arthritis is observed);
- Fighting a lingering cough;
- Strengthening the muscles of the renal system;
- Beneficial effect on the vascular system;
- Improvement of venous circulation (important in case of manifestation of varicose veins);
- Neutralization of enzymes that destroy connective tissue;
- Restoration of damaged protein fractions of blood vessel walls;
- Improving blood circulation throughout the body;
- Decrease in the level of “bad” cholesterol;
- Stabilization of visual function;
- Increased blood circulation in the retinal capillaries;
- Reducing the risks of macular degeneration and the occurrence of retinopathy (appears with an increased level of glucose in the blood);
- Decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive patients;
- Improving the quality of breast milk in nursing mothers;
- Increased attraction in men and women;
- Strengthening male strength and increasing potency;
- Getting rid of sexual dysfunction;
- Improving the condition of the skin, nails and hair.
Purple carrots for weight loss
Purple carrots, as you can see, are low in calories.
It can be eaten fresh and cooked, for this purpose it is better to steam. As noted, it is rich in fiber, which improves digestion, aids in the elimination of harmful substances from the body, lowers blood sugar and improves nutrient absorption.
Most of the fiber in purple carrots is soluble. This fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract, forming a gel-like substance that literally like a sponge absorbs everything that can poison the body.
The inclusion of this type of carrot will help reduce bad cholesterol, improve metabolic processes.
Purple how to use in cooking
The so-called wild purple carrot, a dark vegetable with many medicinal properties, is widely used in cooking.
The root vegetables of such carrots are characterized by a higher degree of juiciness and a sweeter taste than the orange variation.
Thus, all varieties of “indigo” carrots can be:
- Cook (it is allowed to add to soups, borscht);
- Simmer (can be used to create stews and sautés);
- Bake;
- Steam;
- Fry;
- Process for juice;
- Include in a variety of desserts;
- Include an ingredient in the marinade;
- Make it an original and beautiful decoration for salads and side dishes.
Potential harm
Even a purple carrot variety is able to bring not only benefits to the human body, but also harm.
As a consequence, it is important to be extremely careful in consuming vegetables:
- People with personal intolerance to carrots of any kind;
- In the presence of inflammatory processes of the small intestine (more precisely, the small intestine);
- With the factor of peptic ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract.
For the rest, purple carrots can only be considered beneficial.
Purple carrot varieties
There are not many varieties of this carrot on the Russian market yet. The most popular and the seeds of which can be bought in gardening stores or ordered on specialized sites:
Queen purple
Purple
Chocolate bunny
Caramel purple
The agricultural technique for growing purple carrots is no different from growing the usual orange carrots. Seeds are sown in early spring as well. Further care comes down to watering, loosening, feeding and thinning the seedlings. You can harvest at the same time as regular carrots.
Store it in the same way as all root crops.
Finally, take note of this wonderful purple carrot, apple and lemon smoothie recipe.
To prepare it, you will need:
- 2 purple carrots
- 1 apple
- 1/2 lemon juice
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
The first thing to do is wash the carrots well.
Then prepare the apple.
Cut everything into slices and place in a blender.
Puree and pour into a glass.
Add water and juice from half a lemon.
A great option to start your day!
Meet the purple carrot
