Carrots are a very common part of our diet. But did you know that there’s such thing as a black carrot? Yes, you read that right: a black carrot. This variety of carrots is very common in many parts of the world, such as Asia. In addition to being a good additive to culinary dishes, black carrots also offer wide-ranging and amazing health benefits. To learn more, keep reading this article!
What are Black Carrots?
The traditional carrots that we see and eat are orange in color. However, there are actually many varieties of carrots, one of which is black carrots. Scientifically known as the Daucus carota, subspecies sativus, black carrots are a color cultivar of carrot found in India and China. The variation in color is mainly due to the compound concentration in each strain of carrot. Black and purple carrots, for example, are rich in anthocyanin. Yellow and orange carrots have higher beta-carotene levels and generally more active ingredients.
Black carrots have a unique taste, different from the usual carrots that we eat. They have an unexpected sweetness as well as a spicy after-flavor. Although they are black on the outside, many have a more pale coloured center. They are more commonly found in the East, but are imported by many countries to make them more globally available. Black carrots have many health benefits, making them desired by many.
Properties of Black Carrots
The properties of black carrots are actually similar to fruits that are similar in color, like grapes, plums and blueberries. They are all rich in antioxidant properties, which makes them beneficial in fighting the effects of harmful free radicals and premature aging.
Just like red grapes, black carrots are good for the cardiovascular system and help prevent atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the carrots help blood circulation and naturally strengthen blood vessel walls and capillaries.
Black carrots are also rich in vitamin A, which is essential for healthy skin and eyes, strengthening the immune system and improving the quality of sperm cells. They also contain folate, vitamin E and vitamin B3, as well as minerals like calcium, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
Unlike other vegetables, black carrots are more nutritious when they are cooked. This is because they have much firmer cell walls. The body can only convert vitamin A that is lower than 25 percent, but by cooking a black carrots’ cell walls, you’ll be able to convert more than 50 percent of the vitamin A.
Are Black Carrots Healthier than Orange Carrots?
Black carrots and orange carrots have the same powers. However, the black variety is 20 times more potent than the orange variety. Black carrots are great for the vision and skin health, due to their rich content of antioxidants and carotenes. Black carrots are also high in fiber content, low in sodium and contain no fat whatsoever. In fact, the FDA designated the variety of carrot as one of the healthiest, fat-free, fiber-rich, and low-sodium foods.
Health Benefits of Black Carrots
Since black carrots are rich in nutrients, they have amazing health benefits, like treating Alzheimer’s disease, reducing inflammation, optimizing digestion, boosting cognition and preventing various types of cancer. The following are some of the best health benefits of black carrots:
Improves vision. We all know that carrots are popular in supplying our body with beta-carotene.
This nutrient helps improve ocular health. Furthermore, since the beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant, it lowers the risk of macular degeneration.
Treats Alzheimer’s disease. The antioxidant properties of black carrots help reduce the deposition of beta-amyloid plaque in our brain. This condition may lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Treats digestion. Because of its high dietary fiber content, black carrots are good for the digestive system. Fiber, as we know, helps stimulate peristaltic motion and improves the gut’s nutrient uptake.
Helps treat cancer. The anthocyanin in black carrots is beneficial in boosting the body’s immune system against harmful cancer cells. Moreover, the antioxidants in it helps get rid of free radicals and neutralizes cancerous activity in the body.
Helps treat rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory properties of black carrots, as well as its antioxidants, help slow down certain chronic diseases and oxidative stress levels, like rheumatoid arthritis.
