Antioxidant-Rich Purple Carrots Could Be The Next Superfood

An Australian preclinical study in rats highlights the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of purple carrots, the newest superfood containing 28 times the anthocyanins than the familiar orange variety. Rats were fed a high-fat, high-carb diet that imitated the unhealthy Western diet over a 16-week period. The rats gained weight, developed high blood pressure, became glucose intolerant (pre-diabetic) and ended up with damaged livers and hearts. The researchers turned everything around, however, in the final eight weeks of the study by adding purple carrot juice to the diet. The rats returned to good health. The scientists plan human trials for later this year, but an extract of purple carrot juice is already being sold in New Zealand pharmacies.