The carrot (Daucus Carota) is basically a root that pretends to be a vegetable. Its often referred to an absolute health capsule. You can find in various preparations including salads.
It is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Carrots are a particularly good source of fiber, vitamins, potassium, antioxidants and beta carotene. Now beta carotene is a very important ingredient. This pigment is responsible for giving the fruits and veggies their rich colors. Its an excellent source of Vitamin A and is excellent for eye health.
While carrots come in many color hues with Orange being the most popular. I have seen carrots in Orange, Red, Yellow, White and Purple. Many of these are later day off shoots and results of interbreeding. The original Carrot is Actually Purple in Color. And Incidentally the Purple carrot is considered to be the one with maximum Beta Carotene. In fact its twice as good as carrots in other colors. So next time if you get your hands on Purple carrots. Gulp them down !
So lets take a look at why carrots are considered a super food !
1 - Good for eyes. Perhaps the most popular thing we know about carrots is that its good for our eyes. Ever since we are kids we are brought up to that knowledge. Carrots are rich in Beta Carotene and Vitamin A which is excellent for eye health. In fact carrots are considered a good all purpose eye health booster. So if you have eye issues you now know what to do !
2- Weight loss.Carrots are excellent for losing weight. In fact you might see gym goers gulping down carrot juice by the gallons. Carrots are rich in fibers. Apart from ensuing smooth digestion carrots also promote a healthy metabolic system. Fibers ensure that we are filled and don't feel the need to needlessly binge on other foods.
3- Easy bowel movement. Carrots are an excellent cure for constipation. Fiber ensures that stool passes smoothly through your intestines. This also indirectly aids in ensuring the you do not put on weight. Indirectly it also protects you from a whole host of ailments that happen as a result of constipation.
4- Helps deal with High BP.Carrots are great for promoting heart health. The high potassium content in the fruit ensures that our heart stay young and hearty. Potassium in our body helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals. Potassium also helps regulate our blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to conditions like atherosclerosis, strokes, and heart attacks. So carrot is the elixir to a healthy heart.
5- Skin Health.Did you know that carrots can give your skin that glow that you desperately crave ? Yes! The beta carotene factor comes into play again. The vitamin A in carrots ensure that it prevents wrinkling of the skin. It keeps you young longer ! Carrots are also rich in vitamin C which helps skin recover from cuts and wounds much quicker. Apparently i also read somewhere that if one eats too much carrot the skin takes up the color of the fruit temporarily, however i really cannot vouch for that piece of information.
6- Boots immunity.Carrots boost our immunity systems. In times of Corona that's a pretty good promise.Carrots are packed with various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants such as vitamins A,B6,C and K, potassium, phosphorous, etc. which contribute to bone health, stronger nervous system and help improve brain power. The beta carotene fights of free radicals to protect our body from rapid ageing and damage as a result of wear and tear.
7-Lowers Cholesterol. Carrots also aid health health by lowing the bad cholesterol content in your blood and hearts. The fiber in carrots is soluble.According to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, soluble fiber helps in the excretion of bile acids (which have cholesterol).
8-Fights diabetes. Carrots may be sweet and rich is carbs. But surprisingly carrots are very good for fighting diabetes and its recommended that diabetic patients include carrots in their daily diet. (This is not medical advise).
9- Bone health. Carrots are excellent for your bone health. Carrots contain Vitamin K1 which is also known as phylloquinone. Vitamin K1 is important for blood coagulation and can promote bone health.
10- Fights Cancer. Carrots’ cancer-fighting potential comes from being a non-starchy vegetable as well as a source of carotenoids and other phytochemicals. Beta-carotene is the carotenoid that has received the most attention, but research into carrot’s other compounds, and carrots as a whole food, is underway. As per various sources carrot may play an important role in fighting lung cancer.
Hope this article was helpful in giving you a snapshot as to how carrot is a magical root cum veggie that can be immensely helpful if we incorporate it into our daily diet.
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Cher!