Carrots are a tuber considered the perfect food for health. Crisp, flavorful, and highly nutritious, carrots are a particularly good source of beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. In addition, carrots have very interesting properties: with only 25 calories, 2.8 gr. of fiber and 4 gr. of carbohydrates per serving, promote weight loss, reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of cancer and improve eye health.
Benefits of carrots
Scientific studies suggest that eating more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, can help reduce the risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Carrots are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Here are some ways carrots can be healthy.
Improve vision
Popularly, it has always been said that eating a lot of carrots can help you see in the dark, and in a way it is true. According to the National Institutes of Health , the lack of vitamin A is one of the main preventable causes of blindness in children, but eating carrots frequently contributes to the intake of vitamin A -as it is very rich in this nutrient- and helps to prevent such deficiency.
Vitamin A helps protect the surface of the eye and is necessary to form a protein called rhodopsin that is found in the eye and contributes to good vision. As darkness falls and light darkens, rhodopsin is activated and allows the eyes to adjust to the changes. Night blindness, or having trouble seeing in the dark, can be a sign of vitamin A deficiency. Not eating carrots will not directly cause blindness, but consuming them has the ability to improve and maintain vision.
Prevent diseases
Carrots contain antioxidants, a protective chemical that fights and stabilizes free radicals in the body. Exposure to free radicals due to the presence of pollutants, the consumption of sugar or drugs (to name a few) can damage our body and contribute to the development of cardiovascular problems, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
A study conducted at the University of Arkansas found that cooking carrots produces a 3% increase in their antioxidant levels, indicating that processed carrots may provide greater antioxidant properties than raw carrots, and help reduce levels cholesterol and disease risk. Therefore, to get the most out of carrots, it is best if you eat them cooked.
Avoid constipation
Carrots contain dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which helps improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, insoluble fiber increases the volume of stool and promotes the movement of the same throughout the large intestine, facilitating its expulsion.
Reduce blood sugar levels
Carrots, as we have already mentioned, contain two types of fiber. Soluble fiber can slow the absorption of sugar and improve blood sugar levels, while soluble fiber plays a role in controlling sugar, insoluble fiber may reduce the development of type 2 diabetes.
Help strengthen bones
Maintaining bone density is an important factor to enjoy good health that is gaining importance especially with age, since over the years our bones become increasingly fragile.
Recent studies show that the consumption of vitamins A, K and D
-all of them present in carrots- contribute to improving bone health. Additionally, vitamin D and calcium are the most important nutrients for optimal bone strength and density.
