What Are the Benefits of Carrots?
Carrots, scientifically known as Daucus carota is a root vegetable that is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. It is best known to have an orange color, which it gets from beta carotene, an antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A. Carrots also come in other colors like yellow, red, purple, yellow, and white. There are two kinds of carrots; they are the whole carrots and the baby carrots. The whole carrots are harvested while they are still small while the baby-cut carrots are pieces from larger carrots that have been cut into smaller sizes and washed in small amounts of chlorine. The nutrient value of the two kinds of carrots may differ a little but they have the same health benefits. Carrots have a naturally sweet flavor, but sometimes they can be bitter.
Carrots provide the body with the right amount of nutrients. Here are the nutritional contents of one serving of a carrot:
- 25 calories
- 2 grams of fiber
- 6 grams of carbohydrates
- 3 grams of sugar
- 0.5 grams of protein
Carrots are also a great source of vitamins and minerals for the body, and half a cup can give the body its daily requirements of:
Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are great vegetables that help the body in numerous ways. Here are some of its health benefits.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
The antioxidants in carrots have proven to help fight off harmful free radicals in the body that can reduce the risk of one getting cancer. There are two main types of antioxidants in carrots which are carotenoids, which help give carrots their orange and yellow color, and anthocyanins which give carrots their red and purple colors.
Improves Eyesight
Carrots are also known to be rich in beta-carotene, a compound that keeps the eyes healthy and it also helps protect the eyes from the sun and lowers the chances of one getting cataracts and other eye defects.
Keeping the Heart Healthy
The potassium in carrots helps keep your blood pressure under control. The antioxidants present in carrots are also good for your heart. Its fiber content helps in controlling weight and prevents any heart disease from occurring.
Boosts Immune Health
Carrots are rich in vitamin C and this vitamin helps to build antibodies that defend the immune system. It also helps the body take in and use an iron which prevents the body from any infections.
Treats Constipation
When one has difficulty stooling, eating raw carrots makes it much easier. The fiber content helps ease constipation and makes one use the toilet without any difficulty.
Manages Diabetes
People dealing with diabetes are often advised to take non-starchy vegetables, and carrot is one of them. The fiber in carrots can help control one’s blood sugar and it is loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene that reduce the risk of diabetes.
Aids Weight Loss
Carrots are popular for ensuring weight loss. It is a low-calorie food and it can help with fullness and also help reduce the intake of calories in other meals.
Hair Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are also great for the hair. Let`s discuss some hair benefits of carrots.
Stimulating Hair Growth
The vitamin A and vitamin E content in carrots help in improving the circulation of blood around the scalp area. This is beneficial because it not only helps in promoting hair growth but it also helps in preventing the hair from greying. One is advised to consume at least four glasses of carrot juice for good results.
Prevention of Hair Loss
Carrots strengthen the roots of the hair and prevent the hair from falling. This is a result of the minerals and vitamins it contains.
Skin Benefits of Carrots
Besides the health and hair benefits of carrots, this super vegetable is also beneficial for the skin. Let`s explore some skin benefits of carrots
Treats Skin Dryness
Carrots are rich in potassium, which is one of the main requirements for skin health. Shortage of potassium can cause skin dryness, which is why it is highly important to consume carrots regularly. Carrots are rich in potassium which smoothens the skin and gives it a non-flaky appearance.
Protects the Skin from the Sun
Exposing our skin to the sun often can bring about some damages to it. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, and as a result, give the skin the coverage it requires. Carrots also help repair the skin from any sun damage.
Prevents Aging
Eating carrots regularly or including them in your everyday diet can help prevent aging. This is effective with the presence of beta-carotene, as it acts as an antioxidant that helps in preventing cell damage that occurs due to the body’s regular metabolism.
Treats Scars and Blemishes
Carrots are effective at treating scars and blemishes. The antioxidants in the vegetable are responsible for this benefit. You can treat scars and blemishes that appear on your skin by applying carrot juice to the surface of the scar or blemish.
Maintains Skin Glow
Are you looking for that perfect and healthy glow? Then carrot is right for you! It is packed with a lot of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin E, antioxidants, and minerals that help enhance the skin and also act as beauty boosters to the skin, which gives it the healthy glow it deserves.
Treats Skin Ailments
You can use carrots to treat skin ailments like pimples, rashes, and acne. The antioxidants in carrots help in preventing the skin from suffering any ailment.
Carrots are now used as facial masks which help give the face nutrients and sustain healthy skin. These facial masks can come as a calming spray which revives the lost glow of one’s skin from its exposure to sun and pollution. It can also be a moisturizing mask that moisturizes the skin and gives it that smooth and clean surface.
Side Effects of Carrots
There are side effects that are gotten from carrots when one consumes a large amount of them. Let`s take a look at some of the side effects of carrots.
Allergies
Carrots can cause allergies; a study has proven that carrots can cause pollen-related allergic reactions in up to 25% of food-allergic people.
Risk of Contamination
Carrots may cause contamination. This is because some carrots are grown in contaminated soil or exposed to contaminated water, and this can be harmful for consumption.
Slight Change in Skin Color
You probably didn`t kw that carrots can cause a slight change in skin color. This condition is called carotenemia.
Not Safe for People Suffering Psoriasis
People suffering psoriasis are advised to avoid consuming carrots because it can lead to hypervitaminosis.
Now that you Know…
Carrots are packed with lots of nutrients that are essential for the body. It is a perfect snack that one can munch on any day and at any time. It is beneficial in various ways as it is good for the eyes, aids digestion, prevents one’s body from infections, gives your skin a nice glow, and also helps in hair growth. One should also bear in mind that there are side effects to it; this is why you are advised to know your body system before consuming carrots, to prevent allergies and other complications.
