Black carrot benefits: From healthy eyes to weight loss

Updated: Jan 3, 2022 | 16:09 IST
black carrot benefits
When we hear carrots we imagine an orange root vegetable. But did you know that there are black carrots too? Incredibly nutritious, black carrots have high amounts of anthocyanins, a pigment that gives the vegetable a deep purple colour that looks almost black.

Winters in India are incomplete with various carrot preparations. Black carrots are used to make kali gajar ki kanji, a fermented drink. In the streets of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, it's common to find hawkers selling steaming hot kali gajar ka halwa.

Black carrot juice is also a great way to get a quick boost of powerful antioxidants in the morning. Here are some healthy reasons why they are so awesome.

Also Read: Are breakfast cereals as healthy as they claim to be?

Health benefits of black carrots

Due to the high anthocyanin content, kali gajar or black carrots are also incredibly healthy. Black carrot juice has 28 times more anthocyanin than regular orange carrots!

These carrots are chockfull of nutrients that can fight diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and oxidative stress. Here are some of the awesome health benefits of black carrots.

Also Read: Jujube or ber: Top health benefits of this humble fruit

1. Good for heart health: The antioxidants in black carrots promotes heart health by inhibiting clot formation and improving platelet function. The nutrients in black carrots also help in the relaxation of blood vessels, improving cardiovascular health. It also helps in reducing cholesterol in the blood.

2. Has anti-cancer properties: Anthocyanins in black carrots can suppress the growth of cancer cells and inhibit inflammation in the body.

3. Aids weight loss: The antioxidants in black carrots may have anti-obesity properties, which could fight weight gain, fat issue gain and other metabolic disorders.

Also Read: Is lard good for health?

4. Promotes good eyesight: Like their orange cousins, black carrots are also good for vision. They benefit people with glaucoma and retinal inflammation and also helps increase blood flow towards the eyes.

5. Promotes digestive health: Black carrots are full of fibre, which helps in digestive issues like constipation, bloating and flatulence.

Other health benefits of black carrots:

  • Can boost nerve health
  • Strengthens immune system
  • Benefits gut health
  • Is antioxidant rich
  • Rich in vitamin A
  • Fights obesity
Nutrients in black carrots
 Every half-cup of raw black carrots contain the following nutrients:

Nutrients

 Measurement
Total fat

 0.2 grams
Sodium

 69 milligrams
Iron

 0.30 milligrams
Sugar

 4.7 grams
Calcium

 33.00 milligrams
Total carbs

 9.6 grams
Dietary fiber

 2.8 grams
Potassium

 320 milligrams
Protein

 0.9 grams

How to cook black carrots

Black carrots can be cooked in the same way as regular orange carrots. Their deep purple colour is a bonus, which pleases the eyes and the palate.

In its raw form, you can use black carrots in salads or eat them fresh on their own.

If you are lucky enough to hand yourself some black carrots, you can make kali gajar ka halwa. Preserve them for longer by making kali gajar ki kanji, a highly nutritional drink.

It's made by fermenting batons of carrot in a brine made of mustard powder, red chilli powder and black salt along with water. Keep the kanji in a ceramic jar in the sunlight for 3-4 days.

Pickling is another way to enjoy this nutritious root vegetable throughout the year.

Black carrot juice can be added to strawberry marmalades to preserve the bioavailability of its nutrients.

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