An apple a day may keep the doctor away, and now a purple carrot a day may keep the cardiologist away. Recent campus research suggests the pigments in naturally occurring purple carrots may decrease the risk of heart disease, without affecting the carrots' taste.
Purple carrots, as well as red, yellow and white carrots, have existed naturally for centuries in the Middle East, but only recently has Western science discovered their nutritional benefits. In addition to being a good source of vitamin A, said Philipp Simon, professor of horticulture at UW-Madison, colorful carrots may decrease the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol.
Purple carrots have been available at specialty grocery stores here for over a year.
Healthful benefits
Scientists have known for decades that some food pigments confer health benefits. For example, anthocyanin, a dark pigment in blueberries and grapes, can improve one's eyesight, particularly night vision. People whose diets are high in anthocyanin may also experience lower rates of cancer and heart disease.
Susan Smith, UW-Madison associate professor of nutritional sciences, said anthocyanins are part of a larger class of beneficial compounds called carotenoids.
\Free radicals can interact with DNA to cause mutations; carotenoids such as anthocyanin are one way to help stop them,"" she said.
Dave Rakel, an associate professor in the UW medical school, agreed.
""[Anthocyanins] are a good reason why we should eat a variety of different-colored natural whole foods,"" he said, ""and this does not mean Froot Loops.""
Simon has extended the current body of anthocyanin research by studying purple carrots, which have anthocyanin in high concentrations. He said the pigment presents the same health benefits whether it is from carrots or other vegetables, but getting people to try non-orange carrots is a challenge.
The only difference is color
Simon said the public, wary of purple carrots, asks the same two questions: ""Are they safe?"" and ""Are they genetically modified?""
To the first question, Simon said, ""Yes, they're safe, and in fact they're even more healthy because they have extra nutrients.""
To the second question, Simon emphasized these carrots are most certainly not genetic modifications. These carrots evolved naturally in the wild, developing their high anthocyanin levels over many generations without human intervention.
Yet even when people know purple carrots are safe, they are hesitant to eat carrots that are any color besides orange.
""It's true, we do eat with our eyes,"" Simon said. But he maintains purple carrots taste no different from their orange counterparts.
""There may be differences in taste, but those are differences from carrot to carrot, irrespective of color,"" he said. If a person were blindfolded and asked to distinguish between differently pigmented carrots, Simon contends the subject could not do so based on taste alone.
Still, even though purple carrots taste the same and have proven health benefits, Simon does not expect them to be universally accepted.
Messy in the kitchen
When you boil orange carrots, the water becomes orange-ish. This is from the orange beta carotene pigment, which leaks harmlessly into the water from the broken cells. When you boil purple carrots, purple pigments similarly leak into the water, but the water turns a murky brownish-purple. This water is also harmless, but the average consumer may be put off by the dark color.
You could eat the carrots raw, but the pigment is strong enough that if you peel and cut purple carrots without wearing gloves, your skin might be temporarily stained purplish, like the stain from a leaky pen. The stain lasts for about a day and does not wash off, so consumers may be hesitant to handle these carrots.
Simon believes purple carrots will be minor players in the carrot market, finding a niche among discriminating consumers who appreciate their health benefits. He expects orange carrots to remain the carrots of choice for most American consumers.
Even so, Simon's team will still give shoppers a choice.
""We'll put them all out there and let the people decide,"" he said.
