What are Purple Carrots? Benefits and Uses

Isn’t it strange to imagine our favorite bugs bunny eating a purple carrot instead of the orange one? But what if we tell you that the purple variant is healthier and is one of the oldest cultivated forms of carrot that roots back to 17th century.
It is said that the orange variant is a result of genetic mutation, carrots were originally purple or white.Purple carrots are filled with antioxidants, which further makes it a great source of nutrition. Purple carrots have amazing health benefits that may also help in weight loss. Keep reading to find out the nutritional value and usages of purple carrots.

Health benefits of Purple Carrot:
Carrots in general are tasty and healthy, it is the powerhouse of vitamins K and other minerals. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which improves vision. Apart from these common nutrients, purple carrots are considered more nutritious due to its purple hue.
Purple carrots are rich in antioxidants:
It has a unique kind of antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which belongs to polyphenol group and are commonly found in blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, purple potatoes etc. This particular antioxidant protects our body from oxidative stress that is caused due to the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in our system. Oxidative stress can trigger serious health issues like mental decline, aging, cancer, heart diseases etc.
Prevents heart diseases:
Apart from being rich in anthocyanins, purple carrots also contains some anti-inflammatory properties that helps in keeping heart diseases at a distance. It also helps in reducing the production of bad cholesterol in the blood. Due to presence of an array of vitamins and minerals, purple carrot is beneficial for people with diabetes. It helps in regulating the blood insulin level and keeps your glucose in control.
Reduces the risk of cancer:
Purple carrots are loaded with cancer fighting properties, which helps in reducing the risk of breast cancer. According to lot of studies, purple carrots contain nutrients which makes it a healthier option as compared to other carrot variants. It has alpa- carotene, beta- carotene and vitamin A, which helps in preventing from cancer.
Aids in weight-loss:
Carrots are low in calories and high in dietary fibers, which make it an extremely suitable food for people who want to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Purple carrots can be eaten raw or cooked into some savory or sweet dish. These give you a satiated feeling for a long time as it induces hormones like peptide YY that provides a feeling of fullness. Thus, prevents you from unwanted snacking.

How to include purple carrot in your daily diet?
Purple carrot salads:
Mix your favorite vegetables along with purple carrots to prepare an easy salad. Add some topping or seasonings to enhance the taste. These can be your quick fix for lunch or dinner, you can totally eat this healthy raw salad if you are in a diet.
Replace your regular carrot with the purple variant in any curry or side dish:
Purple carrots will add a different flavor and a different color to the existing dish. The taste of all the carrots are almost the same, except these are sweeter than the orange one and are little peppery. They are crunchy and hence makes for a delicious side dish.