Purple Carrots History and Nutritions

One of the first lessons I had at the nutrition class about the roots family included these rare purple carrots. I wouldn't have recognized them at the food store if I did not read about them from before. I hope you enjoy reading this fascinating info about them below:

From popular science magazine

Carrots were domesticated in Afghanistan and spread to the eastern Mediterranean about a thousand years ago. They reached Europe and China in the 1300s. By the early 1500s, orange carrots could be found in Italy, Spain, and Germany. But purple, yellow, red, and white varieties persisted in Asia and the Middle East.

Nobody's really sure how the orange carrot came to take over most of the world. Early reports suggested that purple carrots had a better flavor than white, but purple might have fallen out of favor because they tend to leach a dark pigment to whatever they are cooked with. After that, orange carrots might have got the jump on white carrots simply because it was easier to grow them.

Purple Color

Philipp Simon, a carrot geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is partially responsible for bringing the purple carrot back into our lives. He and his team began working with purple carrots from Syria 35 years ago. They wanted to see if purple carrots harbored any genes that could help make orange carrots resistant to diseases and pests, mostly to help farmers.

In addition to the orange carrot with nematode resistance, Simon and other cross-breeders have produced offshoots in all shape and size combinations.

“The major purpose of my project is to prepare genetic stocks that carrot breeders will need in the future,” says Simon. “I have no crystal ball, but we talk to growers and consumers. We look at carrots and say, 'Might this be interesting?'”

The Organic Seed Alliance did indeed find some of those carrots creations interesting. The organization helped to introduce some of the new varieties to small-scale growers who were seeking novel products.

Then, seeing that the colorful carrots sold well and sometimes for higher prices, larger growers realized they could make a buck off of purple carrots as well. And that's how they got into the cooler at a supermarket chain near you.

Nutrition

The potential nutritional benefits of colorful carrots also helped to make them appealing to consumers. One study found that, compared to orange carrots, purple carrots contain twice the amount of alpha and beta carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.

Purple carrots derive their color from anthocyanin. “Those purple pigments are terrific antioxidants,” says Simon. Antioxidants may prevent cell damage and reduce the risk of certain diseases.

Although scientists are still debating the health benefits of antioxidants, it's generally a good idea to eat a colorful assortment of fruits and veggies every day to make sure you're getting a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Rainbow-hued carrots can certainly help in that regard.

From heal with food magazine

The Extraordinary Health Benefits of Purple Carrots

While vitamin C and carotenoids, such as lutein, certainly contribute to some of the health benefits of the purple carrot, most of the health-protecting power of this newly rediscovered superfood can be attributed to anthocyanins. In laboratory studies, these plant pigments have been shown to exert extremely strong antioxidant effects (even stronger than vitamin E analogues). Considering the significant amounts of anthocyanins in purple carrots, it is not surprising that purple carrot varieties, such as Purple Haze, have been shown to have stronger antioxidant activity than their yellow and orange counterparts.

Thanks to their antioxidant properties and other chemical characteristics, the anthocyanins in purple carrots may provide the following health benefits:

Anti-Carcinogenic Effects Against Colon Cancer Cells. A group of researchers from the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland analyzed the chemopreventive effects of anthocyanin extracts from various natural sources against colon cancer, and found that all anthocyanin extracts were capable of inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells. Research also suggests that lutein, the main carotenoid in purple carrots, may provide protection against colon cancer.

Strong Anti-Inflammatory Properties. Research suggests that anthocyanins have strong anti-inflammatory properties which might help alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Some experts believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of anthocyanins may be even stronger than those of aspirin.

Eye Health Protecting Qualities. You may have already heard that bilberries (wild blueberries) are good for your eyes, but also other anthocyanin-rich foods such as purple carrots may help improve your eye health. Studies suggest that anthocyanins can benefit vision in a number of ways, such as by enhancing night vision, increasing circulation within the capillaries of the retina, fighting macular degeneration, and reducing the risk of retinopathy in diabetic patients.

But the high anthocyanin levels in purple carrots are not the only reason why you might want to snack on these purple goodies if you care about your eyes; the lutein in purple carrots is also known for its eye health-protecting qualities. Sometimes referred to as "the eye vitamin", lutein is commonly used as a preventive treatment for age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Improved Vascular Health. If you suffer from venous insufficiency or varicose veins and are looking to reduce varicose veins through dietary modification, adding purple carrots and other foods that contain anthocyanins to your diet might be a good start. Anthocyanins help fight varicose veins by neutralizing enzymes that destroy connective tissue, by repairing damaged proteins in the blood vessel walls, and by promoting circulation and overall health of the vascular system.