I am sure that I was not alone, growing up I was told that eating my carrots would make me see in the dark. So as a child I didn't need much encouragement to eat them all, with ideas conjuring in my mind of having night vision abilities. While I don't know if this made my night vision any better, I am glad that I ate them now understanding the real benefits of these crunchy orange super veg.
Forget about vitamin A pills. Carrots provide vitamin A and a host of other impressive health benefits including beautiful skin, cancer prevention and anti aging. Learn how to reap the benefits from this crunchy power food.
"The brighter the hue, the better the carrot"
1 cup of chopped, raw carrots contains:
- 52 calories
- 1 g protein
- 12 g carbs
- 3.6 g fiber
- 0 g fat
High levels of both Beta-Carotene & Alpha-Carotene. Both alpha carotene and beta carotene are important for the prevention of vitamin A deficiency, which could lead to blindness. These carotenes serve as powerful antioxidants. They also appear to boost the immune system, and help the body fight against foreign agents such as bacteria and viruses. Thats without mentioning the other vitamins D through K.
How To Eat Carrots
The nutrients in carrots are tightly encased in protein sacs that have to be broken by heat (cooking) or mechanical action (grinding, juicing, proper chewing).
Cooking the carrots in fat or oils, pureeing or juicing them increases the availability of carotenoids by 600 percent.
Fats also help the absorption of carotenoids into the blood by 1,000 percent, as carotenoids are fat soluble, so pour a little olive oil on top!
Not already sold? 11 more Reasons why you should be eating carrots
1. Improves vision
There’s some truth in the old wisdom that carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.
Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat large amounts of beta-carotene had a 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.
2. Helps prevent cancer
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.
Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating rats.
3. Slows down ageing
The high level of beta-carotene in carrots acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the ageing of cells.
4. Promotes healthier skin
Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes and uneven skin tone.
5. Helps prevent infection
Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts—shredded raw or boiled and mashed.
6. Promotes healthier skin (from the outside)
Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask. Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey.
7. Prevents heart disease
Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.
The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.
8. Cleanses 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 fiber present in carrots helps clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
9. Protects 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 saliva, which, being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
10. Prevents stroke
From all the above benefits it’s no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate five or more carrots a week were less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.
11. Sleep
In the Pennsylvania University study they found that consumption of the nutrient alpha-carotene was most closely associated with better sleep. Diets low in this nutrient were linked with trouble falling asleep. Gram for gram, carrots are the most potent sources of alpha carotene, behind canned pumpkin.
Canned carrots, carrot juice, raw baby carrots, frozen carrots and raw regular carrots are all excellent sources of this powerful carotenoid. Carrots also pack several other sleep promoting nutrients like potassium and vitamin B6, as well as vitamin A and biotin.
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