Carrots are one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the world, due to the ease of growing and the many uses in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines. They are a root vegetable and typically orange but also can be white, yellow, purple and red, just not as common. The taproot of the carrot is the part of the vegetable that is normally used and eaten, however the greens are sometimes used in salads.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, ½ cup of chopped carrot, one serving, provides 25 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of sugar and 1 gram of protein. And they are full of a vitamins and minerals. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, It is giving 210% of our daily need. They also provide 6% of vitamin C needs, 2% of daily calcium needs and iron as much as 2% from daily needs per serving. Carrots also contain fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium vitamin E and zinc.
You were probably told as a child to “eat your carrots” by your parents and you probably say the same thing to your kids. And if asked why…you say “because they are good for you.” And that is true. There are a lot of health benefits that are derived from carrots. They can help reduce your cholesterol, help to prevent heart attacks, ward off certain cancers and even reduce the signs of premature aging. They also have the ability to improve the health of your skin, improve digestion, increase cardiovascular health, boost oral heath in a variety of ways and even boost your immune system.
An overwhelming amount of evidence exists that an increased intake of antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, including carrots reduce cancer and cardiovascular disease risks. Carrots have a variety of dietary carotenoids and have been shown to have anti-cancer effects due to their antioxidant power in reducing free radicals in the body. One study showed that current smokers who did not consume carrots had three times the risk of developing lung cancer. Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the growth of colon cancer among Japanese population. Diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer among younger men as derived by a study conducted.
It is said that a deficiency of vitamin A causes eye deterioration, which damages normal vision. And that correcting vitamin A deficiencies with foods high in beta-carotene, like carrots, will restore vision. This is seen when there is a vitamin deficiency, common in developing countries.
Middle-aged people who consume root vegetables in lower amount showed more than three times as much cognitive decline as those who consume in huge amount, as reported by Netherlands study. They state, that the beta-carotene in vegetables, especially from carrots, protects the central nervous system against aging.
It is shown that a higher amount of beta-carotene in your system showed lower insulin levels for those suffering from diabetes.
And the best part of the benefits and nutrition carrots provide is that they are sweet, crunchy and delicious. So, eat your carrots, they are good for you.