Can eating a Carrot turn you orange?

Summary

Who Smarted? - Episode Summary: "Can Eating a Carrot Turn You Orange?"

Release Date: January 3, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of "Who Smarted?" titled "Can Eating a Carrot Turn You Orange?", host Trusty delves into the colorful world of carrots, exploring their nutritional benefits, historical origins, and the myths surrounding them. Joined by co-host Chet Nickerson and the whimsical medieval knight Sir Wabbit, the episode seamlessly blends humor with educational content, captivating young listeners and their families.

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1. The Crunchy Topic: Carrots as a Healthy Snack

The episode kicks off with Trusty posing fun, rhyming riddles about snacks, eventually zeroing in on the humble carrot as the star of the discussion.

• Trusty (00:00): "When snack time comes around, what do you reach for? Something crunchy, something flavorful, Something orange."

Chet Nickerson highlights the nutritional prowess of carrots, emphasizing their role in disease prevention and digestive health.

• Chet Nickerson (00:42): "Carrots are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals. They protect against disease, including heart disease and cancer, and they can improve your digestion."

Trusty adds an intriguing tidbit about carrots potentially enhancing night vision, prompting Sir Wabbit’s unexpected entrance.

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2. Enter Sir Wabbit: A Medieval Twist

Sir Wabbit, a knight in shining armor, challenges the notion that carrots are orange, sparking a playful argument about the true color of carrots.

• Sir Wabbit (01:46): "Do not try to fool me, sir. I know what a carrot looks like, and that is not the right colour."

This interaction sets the stage for a deeper exploration of carrot history and color variations.

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3. The Historical Roots of Carrots

Trusty guides listeners through the origins of carrots, presenting multiple-choice questions to engage young minds.

• Trusty (05:00): "Can you guess where carrots originally came from? Is it A, Afghanistan, B, China, or C, the Netherlands?"
  "If you said Afghanistan, you're right."

The discussion reveals that carrots originated in the region encompassing modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Trusty differentiates between ancient carrots and their modern counterparts, noting that early carrots were not primarily orange.

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4. Colors of Carrots: Beyond Orange

Delving into the diverse palette of carrot colors, Trusty explains that original carrots came in purple, yellow, and even white.

• Trusty (08:09): "What color were carrots originally? A, green and red, B, blue and pink, or C, purple and yellow?"
  "If you said C, purple and yellow, you're right."

Sir Wabbit champions the purple carrot, leading to a whimsical exchange about tasting different carrot varieties.

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5. The Dutch Legacy: Why Orange?

The transformation of carrots from their original colors to the vibrant orange we know today is attributed to Dutch influence.

• Trusty (09:20): "Can you guess who's likely to thank for orange carrots? Is it A, the British, B, the French, or C, the Dutch?"
  "The answer is the Dutch."

The Dutch popularized orange carrots in the 15th and 1600s, possibly to honor Prince William of Orange or due to the crop's suitability to their climate. This shift made orange carrots prevalent across Europe and eventually the globe.

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6. Beta Carotene and Skin Color: Fact or Fiction?

A common myth suggests that consuming carrots can turn one's skin orange. The episode addresses this misconception with scientific insight.

• Sir Wabbit (11:17): "Is that good for you?"

• Trusty (15:38): "True or false? Orange carrots can change your skin color."

Chet confirms that excessive intake of beta carotene, found in carrots, can lead to carotenemia—a harmless condition where the skin takes on an orange hue, especially noticeable in children consuming large amounts of carrot-based foods.

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7. Carrots and Night Vision: The World War II Connection

The belief that carrots enhance night vision is debunked, tracing its origins to World War II propaganda.

• Trusty (16:52): "While carrots are excellent for your eyes, they can't give you supersight."

Trusty explains that the myth originated when the British military claimed their pilots' enhanced night vision was due to carrot consumption, masking the reality of their radar technology. This clever piece of misinformation has lingered, leading some to still believe in carrots' night-vision-enhancing powers.

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Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Trusty wraps up the episode by summarizing the fascinating journey of carrots—from their diverse origins and colors to their undeniable nutritional benefits and the myths they've inspired.

• Trusty (17:05): "World War II in the 1940s...even though that isn't true."

Listeners are encouraged to appreciate carrots not just for their crunchy texture and vibrant color but also for their rich history and health benefits. The episode fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning through its interactive format and entertaining storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

• Trusty (00:00): "What do you call the mini meal between lunch and dinner? I'll give you a hint. It rhymes with smack. Did you say snack?"

• Sir Wabbit (01:46): "Do not try to fool me, sir. I know what a carrot looks like, and that is not the right colour."

• Chet Nickerson (15:47): "Carrots can indeed turn your skin orange."

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Credits

• Written by: Dave Bugs Beaudry
• Voiced by: Beau Marie Adam Healthy Snacks Davis and Jerry Colbert
• Technical Direction and Sound Design: Josh Hahn
• Associate Producer: Max Carrot Cake Kamasky
• Theme Song: Brian Baby Carrot Suarez
• Produced by: Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert
• Production Company: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

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This episode of "Who Smarted?" not only entertains but also educates, making complex topics accessible and enjoyable for children and families alike. Whether listening during a car ride or a quiet afternoon at home, "Can Eating a Carrot Turn You Orange?" is a delightful blend of science, history, and humor that leaves listeners smarter and smiling.

Transcript

[Trusty]

And now it's time for Who Smarted? Psst. Hey, smartypants. Question. What do you call the mini meal between lunch and dinner? I'll give you a hint. It rhymes with smack. Did you say snack? I love a good snack. Another question. When snack time comes around, what do you reach for? Something crunchy, something flavorful, Something orange. Are you thinking of Cheetos? Yeah, I do like Cheetos, but actually, I was thinking of something a lot healthier to eat. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. No. Sad trombone.

[Chet Nickerson]

Oh, sorry, trusty. I'm learning to play the trombone. This is the only song I know.

[Trusty]

Ah, good. Keep at it, Chet. Like I was saying, healthy food can be awesome. Especially when we're talking about this crunchy, flavorful orange food that also happens to be sweet, juicy and perfect for dipping into dips, dressing, cheese sauce, guacamole, hummus, salsa, you name it. In fact, some nutritionists call this snack the perfect health food. Why, it's none other than carrots.

[Chet Nickerson]

This is Chet Nickerson reporting that carrots are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals. They protect against disease, including heart disease and cancer, and they can improve your digestion.

[Trusty]

Thanks, Chet. Oh, it's also been said carrots might help you see at night. Ooh, that was good, Chet. Your trombone playing has really come a long way in the last 30 seconds.

[Chet Nickerson]

Actually, that wasn't me.

[Sir Wabbit]

Whoa, whoa, now. Good day, sir.

[Trusty]

Uh, good day to you, too. Say, what's with the horse and all the metal?

[Sir Wabbit]

I am Sir Wabbit, a knight in shining armor. I've come at your request.

[Trusty]

My request? Oh, wait. I see. My friend Chet Nickerson and I were talking about carrots, and I said they might help you see at night, not see a knight.

[Sir Wabbit]

Oh, sorry, my mistake. I. Wait. Halt. That is not a carrot.

[Trusty]

This? Of course it is.

[Sir Wabbit]

Do not try to fool me, sir. I know what a carrot looks like, and that is not the right colour.

[Trusty]

Uh, smartypants, what color is a carrot? Did you hear that, Sir Wabbit? Everyone said orange, like this carrot I'm holding.

[Sir Wabbit]

Well, I don't know what kind of sorcery you've used to trick everyone into thinking carrots are orange, but I assure you, they are not, and that which you are holding is not a carrot.

[Chet Nickerson]

I really need to learn some new songs.

[Trusty]

So, smarty pants, why would this medieval knight think an orange carrot is the wrong color? What color were carrots originally? Do they really help you see at night? And can eating orange carrots actually turn you orange?

[Chet Nickerson]

Sorry.

[Trusty]

I'll stop it's time for another whiff of history and science on who smarted.

[Sir Wabbit]

Who's smarted?

[Chet Nickerson]

Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history?

[Sir Wabbit]

Listen up, everyone.

[Chet Nickerson]

We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart?

[Trusty]

And hey, smarty pants, imagine a world filled with extra episodes of WhoSmarted, plus bonus content, all without any ads. Well, guess what? That world already exists. It's called WhoSmarted Plus. And for the price of a slice of pizza, each month you'll get extra weekly episodes and bonus content like SmartYQs, all ad free. Plus, you'll be supporting WhoSmarted so we can keep laughing and learning together to get all the smarting and none of the ads. Sign up for WhoSmarted plus right in Apple Podcasts or go to WhoSmarted.com and click subscribe today. Hey, Smartypants, you're not gonna believe this, but I'm actually in a sword fight against a knight from medieval times. I've tried explaining to him that carrots are orange, but this rascally wabbit insists I'm not being honest.

[Sir Wabbit]

That's wabbit. And carrots are. Are not orange. Take that.

[Trusty]

Hey, you just sliced my carrot in half.

[Sir Wabbit]

Well, you should be using a sword, not that orange thing.

[Trusty]

I don't have a sword.

[Sir Wabbit]

Really? In medieval times, everyone has a sword, right, Smartypants?

[Trusty]

You may have heard of medieval times. Known for its castles, kings and queens, and knights in shining armor. But when did they happen? Is it A, during ancient Greek and Roman times, B, between the 5th and 15th centuries, or C, in the 1700s? If you said B between the 5th and 15th Centuries, you're right. And during medieval times, most carrots were not orange.

[Sir Wabbit]

Ha ha ha. So you admit I'm right.

[Trusty]

No, you said, this is not a carrot. I'm saying it is a carrot, just not the kind from your day.

[Sir Wabbit]

Well, I could have told you that.

[Trusty]

Yes, but do you know where carrots come from?

[Sir Wabbit]

Of course. It's a tale as old as time. One dark and dreary evening, when the king's soldiers had lost a battle and all hope was gone, they had a vision. The lady of the Rake emerged from the soil and beckoned to these poor souls. Hark, fair knights. Take this carrot and vanquish your enemies.

[Trusty]

Uh, no. Well played, Jet Smarty pants. Can you guess where carrots originally came from? Is it A, Afghanistan, B, China, or C, the Netherlands? If you said Afghanistan, you're right. Although the exact history is fuzzy, historians believe the carrot originated several Thousand years ago in what is now Afghanistan and perhaps part of Iran and Pakistan. But there's also some evidence the ancient Romans and Greeks had carrots too, but confused them with a related vegetable called the parsnip. Oh, and early carrots weren't just used as food, smartypants. Any guesses what other purpose ancient carrots had? Is it A, a bug repellent, B, medicine, or C bath soap? The answer is B, medicine. Meh. What's up, doc? Ah, but what part of the carrot was used? The leaves or the roots? If you said the leaves, you got it. Though there is some evidence the ancient Greeks and Romans also cooked the roots and ate them, much like we eat carrot roots today. But smarty pants, these roots were not orange.

[Sir Wabbit]

Again, you admit I'm right. Which means that crazy orange thing you're holding is not a carrot.

[Trusty]

Is too.

[Sir Wabbit]

Is not. On God, no.

[Trusty]

No more sword slash carrot fighting. And yes, this orange vegetable is a carrot. But like I said, the original carrots were not orange. Go on, smarty pants. Can you guess what colors original carrots were? A, green and red, B, blue and pink, or C purple and yellow? If you said C, purple and yellow, you're right. And in medieval times, farm grown carrots spread from Afghanistan to other parts of the world, including Western Europe. So if you were a carrot loving knight, your carrots were either yellow or purple.

[Sir Wabbit]

Purple carrots are the best.

[Trusty]

Ooh, do you have a purple carrot? I can try.

[Sir Wabbit]

Nope.

[Trusty]

Please joust me for it. No. Besides, I don't have a lance or a horse.

[Sir Wabbit]

Fine. You may sample my purple carrot.

[Trusty]

Hmm. The purple carrot tastes exactly like an orange carrot.

[Sir Wabbit]

Really?

[Trusty]

Uh huh. Here, taste mine.

[Sir Wabbit]

Oh, you're right. So why are your carrots orange, Smartypants?

[Trusty]

Can you guess who's likely to thank for orange carrots? Is it A, the British, B, the French, or C, the Dutch? The answer is the Dutch. The people of the Netherlands, known as the Dutch, made orange carrots popular during the 15 and 1600s, well after medieval times. Some believe the orange carrot was designed to honor the man known as the founding father of the Netherlands, Prince William of the Royal Royal House of Orange. Other historians dispute this, saying the Dutch developed the orange carrot because it thrived in the country's wet weather. At the time, the Dutch grew much of Europe's vegetables. So the orange carrot quickly became popular throughout the continent and later the world.

[Sir Wabbit]

Alas. Why did the purple carrot lose the favor of the people?

[Trusty]

Smarty pants? Any guesses why? Well, this. Think of purple carrots. If you Cook them with other foods. What might happen to those foods?

[Sir Wabbit]

They turn purple too. Even the pots we use to cook purple carrots get stained. It's. It's pretty annoying.

[Trusty]

Yeah, that doesn't happen with orange carrots.

[Sir Wabbit]

Good point, my good sir. So what makes orange carrots orange, smarty pants?

[Trusty]

Is it A, beta carotene, B, lycopene, or C, citric acid? If you said citric acid, you're thinking about orange oranges, not orange carrots. The answer is a beta carotene. Even though the orange carrot is the world's most popular, you can still get purple and yellow carrots today. There are also red and white carrots. Each have different health benefits because of their pigments, so it's worth trying them all for a healthy diet. Plus, they all taste great.

[Sir Wabbit]

Ah, but what about the rumor that the orange beta carotene pigment in carrots might turn your skin orange? Is it true?

[Trusty]

Um.

[Sir Wabbit]

Tell me now or taste the blade of my sword.

[Trusty]

Fine, fine. I will. Right after this quick break. Hi, guys. It's trusty. Today's episode is brought to you by Squarespace. And I need to tell you about their new design intelligence feature because it's a game changer for anyone who's been putting off creating a website. Look, I know how intimidating tech can feel, but Squarespace's AI powered design system literally transforms your basic ideas into a beautiful professional website. We've used Squarespace to build websites here at Atomic, and what I love is that it combines AI tech with their decades of design expertise. You answer a few simple questions, and it creates a fully customized site that actually looks good. No more staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. And no need to spend thousands of dollars getting a site designed for a passion project or experimental idea. Plus, their payment system makes it super easy to get paid for your services. Whether you're selling courses, book booking, consulting sessions, or offering downloads, they've got all the popular payment options like Apple Pay and Klarna built right in. Head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial and use code smarted to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Today's episode is brought to you by IXL Learning. You know how every child learns differently. That's exactly what makes IXL special for every family. IXL is an incredibly flexible online learning program that enriches your child's classroom or homeschool curriculum with math, language arts, science and social studies. What I love most is how it adapts to each child's level. If Your child races ahead in math, but needs extra practice in reading comprehension. IXL adjusts perfectly to both situations. And here's what's really cool. Kids can explore any topic at any grade level so they're never stuck in a one size fits all program. Plus, they get instant feedback as they learn, which makes it fun. That's why parents of kids in traditional schools and homeschools have fallen in love with ixl. With IXL you will make a real research backed difference in your child's learning journey. Our listeners can get an exclusive 20% off their IXL membership when you sign up today at ixl.com smarted visit ixl.com smarted to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Parents, let's be real. The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next. We needed a reset. But finding healthy snacks kids love that is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new who Smarted sponsors, Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap Scanner is a lifesaver. Just scanner scan the package of your kids favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills, crackers, chomps, beef sticks and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults love that they're off the sugar rollercoaster. Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunchbox or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thrive sponsors who Smarted, helping us keep making the show that you love. Ready to reset with healthy snacks? Go to thrivemarket.com smarted for 30% off and a free $60 gift. That's thrivemarket.com/smarted. Now back to who Smarted. Hey smartypants. As you can hear, I'm back to sword fighting with Sir Wabbit. Only this time I'm using Chet Nickerson's trombone as a sword.

[Chet Nickerson]

Careful, Trusty, it's a rental.

[Sir Wabbit]

Tell me Sir Trusty. Tell us all if orange carrots turn people orange.

[Trusty]

Relax, I'm going to.

[Sir Wabbit]

Oh, then I won't be needing this sword.

[Trusty]

Sorry Smartypants. True or false? Orange carrots can change your skin color. The answer is this is Chet Nickerson.

[Chet Nickerson]

Interrupting your podcast to report that carrots can indeed turn your skin orange.

[Sir Wabbit]

My word, it's actually true.

[Trusty]

It is if you have very pale skin eating foods with beta carotene like orange carrots or squash, sweet potatoes and mangoes can give your skin an orange glow.

[Sir Wabbit]

Whoa. My word. Is that good for you?

[Chet Nickerson]

This is Chet Nickerson reporting that nutritionists say having too many carrots can lead to a condition known as keratinemia, which can turn your hands, knees, elbows and other body parts orange.

[Trusty]

Right. However, you'd need to eat way more than a typical daily dose of carrots. But keratinmia is not unusual for young children, which is why you might see them looking a bit orange after having carrot baby food. But for the most part, it's completely harmless and goes away.

[Sir Wabbit]

That's good to know. One last thing. What is this about carrots helping you see a night?

[Trusty]

You mean see at night? What do you think, smarty pants? Yes or no? Carrots help you see better at night. The answer is a little complicated.

[Sir Wabbit]

Complicated how?

[Trusty]

Your body converts all that beta carotene in carrots into vitamin A, which is good for your eyes. And if you have too little vitamin A, you might have trouble seeing in low light conditions. So in that regard, eating carrots won't decrease your ability to see at night. But the answer is no. While carrots are excellent for your eyes, they can't give you supersight.

[Sir Wabbit]

So where did this idea even come from?

[Trusty]

World War II in the 1940s. During the war, the British military developed a secret radar technology that allowed them to strike down German planes that had been bombing them at night. Since the British didn't want the Germans to learn about this secret radar, they said their pilots were able to see at night because they ate lots of carrots. This made up story was a hit in Britain and soon there were posters everywhere saying carrots gave British soldiers night vision. Rumor has it the story even got German pilots to eat more carrots. To this day, some people think carrots can make you see at night. Even though that isn't true. Exactly. Also, you really do need to learn some more songs.

[Chet Nickerson]

I will, right after this quick snack.

[Trusty]

A double dose of shout outs to Jax and Josie in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. We hear you love listening to who Smarted in the car, at the pool, on a hike, and even when you're cleaning your rooms, it just goes to show, if you put your mind to it, you can smart anywhere. Thanks, you two. This episode, Carrots was written by Dave Bugs Beaudry and voiced by Beau Marie Adam Healthy Snacks Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound designed by Josh Hahn. Who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Religion Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Carrot Cake Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Baby Carrot Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Star Glow.