Carrots Nutrition

Carrots are root vegetables, which are usually orange in color. However, some of the varieties are purple, red, white, and yellow in color. They offer a wide range of health benefits. This article provides some information on the health benefits and nutritional value of this vegetable.

Carrots are an important vegetable which were popular among the ancient Greeks and Romans. Europe and the rest of the world, got a taste of this vegetable during the Middle Ages. They are considered to be the gold mine of nutrients. According to some researchers, the carotene content in a single carrot, is more than that of any other fruit or vegetable. One carrot a day, not only helps improve your eyesight, but also lowers the risk of cancer. Here are some of the important benefits of the vegetable.

Health Benefits

• They contain a high level of beta-carotene (which is responsible for its orange color), which is converted by our body to Vitamin A. This beta-carotene is an excellent antioxidant, which helps fight diseases like cancer, especially lung cancer. It also protects a person against stroke and various heart diseases.
• Besides this, they are also a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, thiamine, magnesium, Vitamin K, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and folic acid.
• They also help in lowering cholesterol, as they contain a high level of calcium pectate. Hence, if you have high cholesterol, then have either a whole vegetable or maybe a glass of its juice every morning for breakfast. It will surely help reduce the level.
• Carrots also chlorine, which is good for skin, hair, and nails. It also detoxifies the liver, thus preventing toxicity of the blood, which in turn might help prevent acne.
• It prevents anemia. This is because the molecules of the vegetable are almost similar to the molecules of the human hemoglobin. Thus, they are good for building blood in the human body.
• They are also a power house of some of the most important nutrients required by our body, such as magnesium, manganese, sulfur, iron, copper, and phosphorous.
• Its juice has diuretic properties. It helps prevent threadworms in children. It also helps eliminate excess fluids from our body, specially from the body of a woman during her menstrual cycle or when she is pregnant. This reduces water retention in our body. It also reduces menstrual cramps in women.
• Women in their third trimester of pregnancy, and those who are lactating would benefit by drinking carrot juice daily, as it would lower the risk of the baby getting affected by jaundice. It will also improve the quality of breast milk.
• Regular consumption of this vegetable will strengthen the immune system. It will also help increase the production, as well as the performance of the white blood cells in our body.
• It might also prove beneficial for those affected by obesity, insomnia, Alzheimer’s disease, pain while urinating, as well as gum infection.
• The calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium content is good for the bones, as well as the nerves. Sulfur is also present in this vegetable. It is a major source of insulin, which converts the carbohydrates into energy. Vitamin E develops the muscles of our body.
• Consuming the juice extracted from carrots and spinach on a daily basis would help get rid of constipation.
• The mucus present in the nose, throat and the ear which causes congestion, can also be prevented with the help of carrot or carrot juice.

This small vegetable does have a wide range of health benefits, however, they are rich in sugar. Hence, if you are a diabetic, then it is best that you take just half a carrot per day and not a whole one.

The table shows the content information on calories, proteins, vitamins, and other nutritional benefits of the vegetable. Thus, including carrots in your diet might prove beneficial.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.