Black carrots: Properties and health benefits
The black carrots are a variant of the classic and best known – orange carrots, and also hide numerous properties and health benefits. These carrots, also known as purple carrots, little known in the West, are nevertheless very used to prepare many recipes in countries of India and China.
Let’s see, below, and more carefully, what are benefits of this particular variety and differ from the traditional orange carrots.
The properties of black carrots are similar to those of the fruits of the same color, such as blueberries, plums and grapes. Fruits especially appreciated because it contains antioxidants that help fight the effects of free radicals and premature aging.
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High level of antioxidants
Black carrots, like dark red grapes, are good for the cardiovascular system and to prevent atherosclerosis. This variety of carrots, in fact, helps blood circulation and allows naturally strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries.
The great secret of the power of the black carrot lies precisely in its succulent color. The purple pigment is rich in super powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. These antioxidants are excellent for lowering blood pressure, lowering bad cholesterol and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The high level of antioxidants in black carrot also helps fight the damage that free radicals cause in cells. This powerful antioxidant activity could help reduce the risk of cancer.
Help digestion
One of the properties of black pepper is that it increases the secretions of our stomach, this helps our digestion, because when to digest food well to avoid colic, constipation and even diarrhea, this species also help to prevent intestinal gas, if consuming black pepper will also favor urine and perspiration.
Prevent colds and flu
Another of the properties of black carrot is that it can be added in some tonics, to cope with colds and flu, since it calms sinusitis and nasal congestion. It is also widely used to combat respiratory problems, such as asthma, acute cough, etc. It is also good against cavities also calms the toothaches, a while ago it was also used to cure some eye problems.
Rich in vitamin
Moreover, the black carrots, like oranges, are rich in vitamin A, essential for healthy eyes or skin. Black carrots also help strengthen the immune system and improve the quality of male sperm. These are also rich in vitamin E and group B: folates and vitamin B3. The contribution in minerals is in the form of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine and calcium.
Unlike most of the vegetables, this is more nutritious when eaten cooked. Because premium has firm cell walls, and the body can only convert less than 25% to vitamin A, by cooking these walls break down allowing the body to convert more than 50% to vitamin A.
An ally to lose weight
We can even include them in diets without fear of passing with the calories, because it contains approximately 35 grams for every 100 grams. This feature makes black carrots are especially suitable when following a diet that helps us stay in shape or lose weight. We can take them to mid-morning or mid-afternoon, as a healthy snack and low in calories.
A health pump for blood
The black or purple carrot is a real health pump for our blood system, they are fabulous to reduce pain and pressure in varicose veins, and this is due to anthocyanins which act thanks to its anti-inflammatory power. But they also activate a group of proteins that have the property of repairing damaged walls of blood vessels, thus improving our vascular health.
In reality, they will not make our varicose veins disappear completely but they will alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Black carrots are 20 times healthier than orange carrots
The black carrots have the same power as the orange carrots, but multiplied more than 20 times. Black carrots are excellent for skin health and sight thanks to its abundance of carotenes and antioxidants.
They are also super high in fiber, low in sodium and contain no fat. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed black carrot to be heralded as a healthy, fat-free, low-sodium, high-fiber food.
How to include it in the diet
How to cook black carrots? To fully exploit the antioxidant and anti-aging properties of these we can eat the carrots in different ways. First, we can prepare a good homemade juice. In this case, must first peel carrots. You mix it with apple and a touch of lemon. It is great to take it in the mornings as a nutritious breakfast, although it can also be an excellent companion for your dinners. Black carrots can also be used to prepare salads, seasoned with a pinch of salt and olive oil.