Most people know that eating more vegetables is good for your health. Especially when it comes to preventing diseases like colon cancer.
But one particular vegetable has now caught researchers’ attention. And it’s not just about eating more – it’s about eating the right kind.
For over 20 years, scientists at the University of Southern Denmark have studied this type of vegetable.
They believe this vegetable might be powerful enough to prevent colon and rectal cancer.
The bitter truth behind the carrot
Two natural compounds – falcarinol and falcarindiol – are at the heart of the research. They’re part of the carrot’s own defense system against fungal infections.
In lab tests and animal studies, these compounds have shown strong anti-cancer properties.
In one study, rats saw an 83 percent drop in cancer incidence after consuming the right kind of carrot extract.
Early experiments with human tissue have also shown promising effects. After just 14 days of drinking carrot juice, changes in cancer cell receptors were observed.
But there’s a catch: not all carrots are created equal.
Not for sale
The everyday orange carrot lacks the necessary concentration of the two active compounds. In fact, the more bitter the carrot, the more potent it seems to be.
Researchers have tested over 100 varieties. The best ones are 50 to 100 times more effective than the worst.
That’s why the clinical trial, now underway, uses a special yellow carrot known as Yellowstone. It’s not available in stores – it’s grown exclusively for this study.
In the trial, 400 participants are involved. Half of them will drink 100 ml of Yellowstone carrot juice daily for one year.
The researchers want to see whether this routine can actually reduce the occurrence of colon cancer in real people.
If the results confirm the researchers’ hopes, the humble Yellowstone carrot could become a new weapon in cancer prevention – and possibly reach supermarket shelves in the future.
This article is based on information from Berlingske.