The health benefits of carrots include reduced cholesterol, prevention
from heart attacks, warding off of certain cancers, improving vision,
and reducing the signs of premature aging. Furthermore, carrots have the
ability to increase the health of your skin, boost the immune system,
improve digestion, increase 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.
Carrots are one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the
world, partly because they grow relatively easily, and are very
versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines. Carrots are
scientifically classified as Daucus carota, and it is categorized as a
root vegetable. It is typically orange in color, but purple, white,
yellow, and red carrots are out there, just not as common. 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.
Health Benefits of Carrots
Prevention of Heart Disease: In a study meant to reveal
the therapeutic value of carrots, researchers at the Wolfson
Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that
cholesterol level drops by an average of 11 percent if seven ounces of
raw carrots per day are taken for thee weeks.
High cholesterol is a major factor for heart disease. Since regular
consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol levels, it is a good idea to
consume a healthy dose of carrots, in order to prevent heart-related
problems.
A group of Swedish scientists discovered that these root vegetables can
reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the
Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that
those who ate more carrots had 1/3 as high a risk of heart attack as
compared with those who ate less carrots.
Blood Pressure: Next time you start getting riled up
about something and your blood begins to boil, eat a carrot! Carrots are
rich sources of potassium, which is a vasodilator and can relax the
tension in your blood vessels and arteries, thereby increasing blood
flow and circulation, boosting organ function throughout the body, and
reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. High blood pressure is
also directly linked to atherosclerosis, strokes, and heart attacks, so
this is yet another heart-healthy aspect of carrots! The coumarin found
in carrots also has been linked to reducing hypertension and protecting
your heart health!
Immune Booster: Carrots contain a number of antiseptic
and antibacterial abilities that make it ideal for boosting the immune
system. Not only that, carrots are 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.
Digestion: Carrots, like most vegetables, have
significant amounts of dietary fiber in those orange roots, and fiber is
one of the most important elements in maintaining good digestive
health. Fiber adds bulk to stool, which helps it to pass smoothly
through the digestive tract, and it also stimulates peristaltic motion
and the secretion of gastric juices. Altogether, this reduces the
severity of conditions like constipation, and protects your colon and
stomach from various serious illnesses, including colorectal cancer.
Fiber also boosts heart health by helping to eliminate excess LDL
cholesterol from the walls of arteries and blood vessels.
Prevents Cancer: Beta-carotene consumption has been
linked to a reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer.
British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption
from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams per day reduced lung cancer risk by more
than 40 percent. The average carrot contains about three milligrams of
beta-carotene.
In a separate study, researchers found that eating fiber-rich carrots
reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study
shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less
likely to develop bre*st cancer than women who did not eat carrots.
Further research into the application of both carrots and beta-carotene
in relation to other forms of cancer is ongoing.
Macular 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. Beta-carotene can also split itself via an enzymatic reaction to
form provitamin A, which is often associated with antioxidant capacity
in relation to vision. Therefore, carrots are an all-around vision
booster.
Improves Eyesight: Deficiency of vitamin A can cause
some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrots are rich in vitamin
A, it is good for improving eyesight and preventing conditions like
night blindness from developing as we age.
Oral Health: The organic compounds in carrots all by
themselves are good for mineral antioxidants, but carrots also stimulate
the gums and induce excess saliva. Saliva is an alkaline substance and
combats the bacteria and foreign bodies that can often result in
cavities, halitosis, and other oral health risks.
Stroke: Eating a carrot every day reduces the risk of
stroke by 68%. Many studies have strengthened the belief in the “carrot
effect” on the brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that
those with highest levels of beta carotene had the highest survival
rate.
Diabetes: Carrots are good for blood sugar regulation
due to the presence of carotenoids in this delicious vegetable.
Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood
sugar, thereby helping diabetic patients live a normal, healthy life.
They also regulate the amount of insulin and glucose that is being used
and metabolized by the body, providing a more even and healthy
fluctuation for diabetic patients.
Carrots have antiseptic qualities and can therefore be used as
laxatives, vermicides and as a remedy for liver conditions. Carrot oil
is good for dry skin because it makes the skin softer, smoother and
firmer. Furthermore, carrot juice improves stomach and gastrointestinal
health.
Culled from the internet