Carrots are a healthy source of nutrients that can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. They're loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that make them a great snack or side dish.
Carrots are easy to grow in your own garden, and are widely available at supermarkets as a convenient and affordable health food.
If you're looking to add more nutrients to your diet, consider increasing your intake of carrots.
Wondering what the health benefits of carrots are? Check out this list of 7 vital health benefits of carrots.
Aids Digestion
If you're looking to improve your digestion, carrots are a great place to start. Carrots are rich in fiber, so they can help your body break down food more easily. Fiber also helps prevent constipation and heartburn, which is why many doctors recommend eating at least 30 grams of fiber each day.
The high fiber content of carrots can also help to keep blood sugar levels stabilized.
If you're prone to ulcers or acid reflux, carrots can also be helpful for improving digestive health. This is because carrots contain vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and protect against ulcer formation by neutralizing acidity levels as it passes through your gut.
Reduces Risk of Cancer
The beta-carotene in carrots is converted into vitamin A. The antioxidant properties of vitamin A reduces the risk of cancer by protecting cell membranes from toxin damage while slowing the production of cancer cells.
Carrots are also an excellent source of other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E.
Prevents Heart Diseases
Carrots are a good source of folate, which helps to prevent heart disease. Folate is also known as folic acid and vitamin B9. It's a water-soluble micronutrient that helps convert food into energy and supports healthy brain function.
The potassium found in carrots also promotes heart health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). A single medium carrot contains about 95 milligrams of this mineral.
Boosts Immunity
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps your body build antibodies that defend your immune system from harmful bacteria or viruses.
The zinc, copper, and iron content of carrots is also beneficial to your immune system.
Vitamin A also helps the body fight infections by boosting immunity while preventing oxidative stress.
Improves Eye Health
Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoid family, which also includes alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. Carotenoids are antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that help protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals.
Beta-carotene is an orange pigment that gives foods like sweet potatoes and carrots their distinctive hue. If you’ve heard that carrots are good for vision, this is true, and beta-carotene is the reason why.
If you struggle with dry eye symptoms or night blindness, adding carrots to your diet can help you to alleviate these symptoms due to the vitamin A content that is converted from beta-carotene.
Prevents Birth Defects
Carrots are full of vitamin B and folic acid, both of which contribute to the development of a fetus’ brain and nervous system. By adding carrots to your diet during pregnancy, you can also reduce your baby’s risk of being born with spina bifida or neurological birth defects.
Contributes to Bone Health
Carrots contain calcium and vitamin K, both of which are essential to the health of your bones. Without sufficient levels of calcium, bones can lose density and become weak. Weak bones are more prone to injuries and will not grow properly.
Vitamin K is essential to the carboxylation process of many proteins that contribute to bone health. Due to this function, vitamin K can help to prevent osteoporosis.
Health Benefits of Carrots: Final Thoughts
Carrots are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are for good digestion, and they can help lower your risk of cancer and heart disease.
Carrots are also rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene that boost immunity and protect against oxidative damage caused by free radicals or environmental pollutants.
By incorporating carrots into your diet, you can reap an array of health benefits that will contribute to your overall well being.
As you enjoy carrots and other fresh produce, download the Lil’ Broc app in order to track and monitor the shelf life of your produce.