Top 10 Health Benefits of Carrot in Daily Diet
Last Updated on December 18th, 2020
Since my childhood days I have known that carrots are good source of vitamin A and are really good for eyes. But now, when I have grown up, and have studied all these veggies and fruits thoroughly, now I know that the carrot that I loved to eat didn’t only promoted my vision but have a lot to offer to health. Carrot in short could be called a “powerfruit”, with powerful health benefits including beautiful skin, cancer prevention, anti-aging, fights diabetes, keeps heart healthy and also promotes immunity. And crispy, crunchy and delicious on its own, carrots are one of the most popular vegetables and can be enjoyed year-round.
Health Benefits of Carrot
Getting vitamin A from carrots will always be better than having vitamin A pills because carrots don’t actually contain vitamin A. Surprised… huh? They actually contain beta-carotene (an antioxidant and type of carotenoid) that our bodies convert to vitamin A.
The main difference between a vitamin A pill and carrot comes here; in case of carrot our body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A only as much as our body need to. So we never have to worry about suffering any toxic side-effects from excess vitamin A. While in case of pills, there is possibility of suffering toxic side effects of excess vitamin A.
Apart from vitamin A and beta carotenes, carrots also contain a number of nutrients that makes carrot a powerfruit. It is also a good source of vitamin D, B vitamins (including folate)
Some of the Major Health Benefits of Eating Carrots are:
Improves vision:
First and foremost, the best known health benefit that carrot does is, it improves the vision. Vitamin A plays a vital role when it comes to visionary power, and what else can be a better source of vitamin A than carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, necessary for night vision. Not just it improves vision, but beta-carotene present in carrot has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts.
Flawless Skin:
Vitamin A is routinely used to treat skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, wounds, burns and even sunburn. And rough and dry skin is a common sign that you’re not getting enough vitamin A. Carrot’s high levels of vitamin A can help you achieve that glowing, healthy skin free of all the flaws (roughness, acne and marks). Plus vitamin also plays a role of sunscreen lotion as it protects the skin from the damage caused by sun. Thus, all these benefits make carrot a food must for everyone who aspires to look good.
Boosts Immunity:
Carrots contain a number of antiseptic and antibacterial abilities that make it ideal for boosting the immune system. Immune system takes its salary in proteins, lipids, minerals and vitamins. When it comes to strengthening the immune system, vitamin A (along with vitamin D) plays a vital role. It stimulates the production and activity of white blood cells, which play a huge role in defending the body against diseases and foreign entities. Vitamin A also regulates the release of immune cells in the gut and vitamin C which is another key nutrient present in carrots, help in boosting the immune system.
Healthy Heart:
When it comes to the health of heart, carrots could play an all rounder role. Thanks to their high antioxidant content, carrots can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Falcarinol and other polyacetylenes can prevent red blood cells from clumping together, thus helps to promote heart health. Moreover, studies have also shown that beta carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein present in carrots also helps maintain healthy heart beat rate, hence maintains the blood pressure. And the fiber content does not let the LDL to accumulate on the walls of arteries and thus protects from strokes also.
Checks Cholesterol Levels:
One of the most incredible advantages of carrots is their power to suppress the bad cholesterol. The potassium contained in carrot juice can help to eliminate increased levels of cholesterol in the body. It’s also great for the liver since it decreases fat as well as bile within it. Not just potassium, but the high fiber content in the carrot binds with cholesterol, and then carries it out of your system, which helps lower the cholesterol known as LDL.
Oral Health:
Carrots are really good for all around mouth protection. 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. And saliva being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria, and foreign bodies that can often result in cavities, halitosis, and other oral health risks. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
Diabetes:
Carrots are good for blood sugar regulation due to the presence of carotenoids in it. Carotenoids reduce insulin resistance of blood and thus lower blood sugar levels notably. They also regulate the amount of insulin and glucose that is being used and metabolized by the body. Thus, by reducing resistance to insulin, and regulating insulin levels, carrots help in both diabetes type 1 as well as diabetes 2 cases.
Natural Detoxifier:
Carrots are yet famous for their ability to detoxify the body by removing all the toxins out of body. They help liver work healthier. Vitamin A helps the liver flush out toxins from your body. It does this by helping reduce the bile and fat found inside the liver. The liver produces bile, which removes wastes, but bile stays in the liver until fats enter the small intestine and trigger its release. Carotenoids are fat-soluble, so when you eat a carrot, they stimulate bile to flow and remove wastes. Thus, eating carrot also helps in reducing obesity, by eliminating the extra fat out of the body.
Combats Menstruation Problems:
This benefit of carrot is like blessing for women. The phyto estrogen in carrots helps in easing the menstrual pain and regularizing bleeding in those who have a heavy menstrual flow. It is also found to be effective in post-menopausal women. Carrots also help in getting rid of hot flushes and stabilises other menopausal symptoms. It helps maintaining overall health during and after menstruation cycle.
Good During Pregnancy:
Eating carrot during pregnancy is not just good for baby, but essential for mothers also to remain healthy as well. Potassium content of carrot makes it so important for “to be mothers”. Actually during pregnancy blood volumes in women can increase by as much as 50% which requires more of electrolytes. Thus the potassium in carrot provides the required electrolytic compound. Plus, the pregnant mothers who experience leg cramps should increase the intake of carrot, because it again provides the potassium required to take care of cramps.
Concluding Thoughts
These are the 10 best benefits you can expect next time you eat carrots. Apart from these ten, there are a number of benefits that carrots have to offer like improving digestion, keeping lever problems at bay, fighting anemia, improving complexion and even lots more. Thus, keeping in view all these benefits, one can enjoy eating carrots even if he doesn’t like it much (chances are rare though).
The best way one can consume carrots is by drinking its juice, or you can simply eat it raw by applying salt or lemon on it. Even a carrot dish in any meal will work out well. The main objective is to ripe as many carrots as you can and make yourself a healthier person.
Do enjoy carrots and don’t forget to comment here if you feel the difference after eating carrot, and even if you know some other benefits of carrot you can share.
Eat Natural…!! Stay Healthy…!!
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