Are Carrots important to our bodies? Of course, the simple answer here is a big YES! As a matter of fact, carrot benefits your whole body in lucrative ways beyond human and scientific understanding. To enumerate, a carrot (Daucus Carota) is a plant with a thick, fleshy, deeply colored root that grows underground. Plus its feathery green leaves emerge above ground.
It’s a root vegetable often claimed to be the perfect health food. By nature, a carrot is a plant with a thick, fleshy, deeply colored root that grows underground. And also feathery green leaves that emerge above ground.
And in reality, it is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Furthermore, Carrots are a particularly good source of a variety of nutritious bodybuilding elements.
Beneficial elements in carrots include;
- Beta carotene,
- Fiber,
- Vitamin K1,
- Potassium, and
- Antioxidants.
Important to realize that; the carrot belongs to the Umbelliferae family. Named after the umbrella-like flower clusters common to plants in this family, including parsnips, parsley, fennel, and dill.
There are more than a hundred different varieties of carrots that vary in size and color. They can be as short as 2 inches or as long as 3 feet, ranging in diameter from 1/2 inch to over 2 inches.
Carrot roots have a crunchy texture and a sweet, minty, aromatic taste, while the greens are fresh-tasting and slightly bitter.
What is the Nutrition Value of Carrot?
This plant family is so interesting in fact, that they were the first plant family to be acknowledged and classified by botanists of the sixteenth century (Arcadian Archives, 1999).
The health benefits of carrots and their delicious taste make them an important vegetable in cultural cuisines across the globe.
Most of the benefits of carrots can be attributed to their beta-carotene and fiber content.
According to the USDA Nutrient Data, these root vegetables are also a good source of antioxidants, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin B6.
Both adults and children like them because of their crunchy texture and sweet taste.
Should I peel Carrots?
The peels contain about half of the antioxidants (known as phenolic compounds) in carrots, so you should try washing them thoroughly instead of peeling. However, if you’re shredding carrots to eat later, removing the outer layer may help maintain color and increase shelf life.
While any food can make you gain weight if you eat it in excess, it’s pretty difficult to “overdo it” on produce — carrots included! Carrots are a key source of beta-carotene, the plant-based precursor to vitamin A. Making them a great food for protecting eyesight and eye health overall.
Plus, you don’t have to go crazy on portion size: Just one large carrot has more than double your daily value! A carrot a day keeps the eye doctor away? Not out of the realm of possibility.
What about Carrots in other Colors?
They’re all nutritious choices, but their nutrient composition will differ ever-so-slightly.
Recent studies suggest that the flavonoids in black or purple carrots have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. Plus, the polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids in black carrots may substantially defend against chronic disease.
Interestingly, some types of red carrots may provide more beta-carotene and large amounts of lycopene, nutrients linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, and some cancers.
What are the Main Benefits of Carrot?
On one hand, carrots are one of the most widely used and enjoyed root vegetables in the world, partly because they grow relatively easily.
Again, they are very versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines and come in different colors such as orange, purple, white, yellow, and red.
The taproot of the carrot is the part of the vegetable most commonly eaten, although the greens are still beneficial in salads and other forms.
On the other hand, carrots in the wild have a woody core element that is not very palatable. So, cultivation has eventually selected out that characteristic and we are left with the form of carrots that we are familiar with today.
Forget about Vitamin A pills. With this orange crunchy powerfood, you get Vitamin A and a host of other powerful health benefits.
Including, beautiful skin, cancer prevention, and anti-aging. Read how to get maximum benefits from this amazing vegetable.
Here are the general benefits of carrots to our body;
1. Helps in preventing stroke and cancer
From all the benefits it is no surprise that a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more.
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel causes the anticancer properties.
Notably, carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot eating mice.
2. Promotes healthy teeth and gums
It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste.
Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of salivae, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria.
The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
3. Reduce the risk of stroke
Eating a carrot every day reduces the risk of stroke by 68 percent.
Many studies have strengthened the belief in the “carrot effect” on the brain.
Lutein, a carotenoid present in carrots, has been positively linked to improved brain health., according to a study conducted by the researchers at The University of Illinois.
Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with the highest levels of beta-carotene also had the highest survival rate.
4. Helps cleanse the body
Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver.
The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
7. Reduce muscular degeneration
This is a common eye disease of the elderly that impairs the function of the macula.
Research has found that people who ate the most amount of beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least.
8. Promotes a healthy glowing skin
Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair, and nails.
Vitamin prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, uneven skin tone.
9. Helps control diabetes
Carrots are good for blood sugar regulation due to the presence of carotenoids in them.
Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar. Thereby helping diabetic patients live a normal, healthy life.
10. It’s a powerful antiseptic
Carrots contain a number of antiseptic and antibacterial abilities that make them ideal for boosting the immune system.
Not only that, but they are also a rich source of vitamin C, which stimulates the activity of white blood cells.
And is one of the most important elements in the human immune system. Known by herbalists to prevent infection.
11. It’s known as an anti-aging agent
The high levels of beta-carotene act as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.
It helps slows down the aging of cells.
12. Helps to improve vision
Dr. Lindeboom found in his research that a deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light, leading to night blindness. Since they are rich in vitamin A.
Whereas, a study to determine the antioxidant capacity of seven-colored carrots also suggests they are good for improving eye health.
And also, preventing conditions like night blindness from developing as we age.
13. Carrot has antioxidant elements
The organic compounds in carrots are good mineral antioxidants and they also stimulate the gums and induce excess saliva.
Saliva is an alkaline substance and combats the bacteria and foreign bodies that often result in cavities, halitosis, and other oral health risks.
What Eating Carrot daily Does to your Health
There are two seasons a year for carrots, and local carrots are available in the spring and fall.
However, they can be found in supermarkets all year. They can be bought fresh, frozen, canned, or pickled.
Carrots are best stored in the refrigerator in a sealed plastic bag.
If the greens are still attached to the top of the carrot, remove them before storing to prevent the greens from drawing out moisture and nutrients from the roots.
However, it is recommended that you peel and wash before consuming them. Since they are a versatile vegetable. They can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, roasted, and as an ingredient in many soups and stews.
- For instance, use shredded carrots in coleslaws, salads, wraps
- Add shredded carrots to baked goods, such as cakes and muffins
- Snack on carrot sticks or baby carrots as a snack or with herbed dips and hummus
- Use carrots in the juice for a sweet, mild flavor
Raw or steamed carrots provide the most nutritional value.
Are there any Risks of Overconsumption?
As can be seen, the health benefits of carrots include reduced cholesterol, lower risk of heart attacks, improved vision, and reduce signs of premature aging.
Furthermore, carrots have the ability to improve the skin, boost the immune system, optimize digestion, protect cardiovascular health, detoxify the body, and boost oral health in a variety of ways.
They also provide a well-rounded influx of vitamins and minerals. However, overconsumption of vitamin A can be toxic to humans. It may cause a slight orange tinge in skin color, but this not harmful to health.
An overdose of vitamin A is unlikely to happen because of diet alone, but it may result from supplement use. People who are taking medications derived from vitamin A, such as isotretinoin (Roaccutane) for acne or acitretin for psoriasis, should avoid eating large amounts of carrots.
As they could lead to hypervitaminosis A, an overdose of vitamin A. Anyone who is starting a new medication should check with their doctor about any recommended dietary changes.
Takeaway,
Often, a carrot is thought of as an ultimate health food. Generations of parents have told their children: “Eat your carrots, they are good for you,” or “Carrots will help you see in the dark.”
People probably first cultivated the carrot thousands of years ago, in the area now known as Afghanistan. The type of carrot most commonly eaten around the world is native to Europe and Southwestern Asia.
Thus, carrots, consumed as raw fruits, juice, or in a cooked form, are always a good choice for your health!
So, What is your take about carrots? Please let us know in the comments section below. You can also Contact Us if you’ll have any additional contributions in regards to this or even more of our blog posts.
You can also read and learn more about How to Make Carrot Juice. Or even, How to plant, grow, and harvest carrots.
