Orange carrots have many different varieties – purple, black, red, white, and yellow shades. However, only one of them possesses unique properties that are particularly beneficial for health.
Common orange carrots indeed have many colorful "relatives." All of them are domesticated forms of wild carrots, originating from Southwest Asia and partially Europe. It is the orange root vegetable that has become a natural remedy capable of slowing the development of various eye diseases and protecting cells from premature aging.
The healing properties of orange carrots are due to the presence of carotenoids – natural pigments that are found in large quantities in their composition. This conclusion was reached by researchers from the University of North Carolina during an extensive study.
The scientists analyzed the genomes of 600 carrot varieties and discovered why this root vegetable has an orange color. This hue arose due to three specific genes that are in a recessive (suppressed) state.
The researchers suggested that orange carrots were bred by crossing white and yellow root vegetables in Western Europe in the 15th–16th centuries. The bright color and sweet taste of the new variety made it a popular food product.
The carotenoids found in carrots help protect cell membranes from the destructive effects of reactive oxygen species, known as oxidative stress.
Moreover, these natural pigments significantly reduce the risk of eye diseases, including those related to photochemical damage to the retina – the eye's lining. The results of the study were published in a scientific article in the journal Nature.
