Be honest. We won’t tell your favorite produce worker.
Carrots may seem like a real bore for some kids, but our parents sure liked them. In fact, they continuously reminded us that we’d “thank them some day.”
Boy, were they right.
Fast-forward to adulthood, and we simply can’t get enough of these orange-colored wonders. In fact, we love them. We eat them as snacks, in our favorite crockpot dishes, and even in between meetings at work.
That’s because we now know that carrots are one of the healthiest foods we can eat. Not only are they low in calories, but they also can make a quick side dish for just about any meal. And they’re great lunch box stuffers for the little ones (who probably complain just like we did).
In case you’ve lost your “carrotude,” we’re going to give you a quick refresher. Here are seven amazing health benefits of carrots.
- Carrots are a great source of vitamin A.
Did you know that just a half a cup of raw carrots provides 184 percent of the daily allowance of vitamin A? That’s a hefty amount.
Vitamin A is a necessary nutrient when it comes to health. A fat-soluble vitamin, the body can store it in the liver. This differs from water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C, that the body can’t store. This means the nutritional benefits of carrots can last for a while.
Vitamin A is healthy in many ways. First, it helps the body to create skin and keep it healthy, and the body needs it for healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and even eye health.
The thing is that there is more than one type of vitamin A. According to Medline Plus, two different types of vitamin A can be found in foods. The first is preformed vitamin A, which can be found in animal products, and the second is called pro-vitamin A, found in fruits and vegetables.
Carrots are a great source of pro-vitamin A. So go ahead, eat up.
- They’re great for your heart.
If you want a healthy ticker, you may want to make carrots part of your diet.
According to the George Mateljan Foundation, one such study analyzed fruits and vegetables by color. The decade-long project, conducted in the Netherlands, divided fruits and veggies into four categories: orange/yellow, green, red/purple and white. Interestingly, the foods with the orange/yellow colors (especially those with dark orange and yellow colors) showed the most benefit in the way of preventing heart disease.
Carrots were shown to have heroic qualities in that they “were determined to be the most prominent member of this dark orange/yellow food category.” Those who consumed fewer carrots were shown to have the least protection against heart disease. But those who consumed 25 grams or more of carrots had a reduced risk of heart disease.
Remember this when you’re planning your heart-healthy regimen. Carrots and a healthy heart go hand in hand.
- Carrots and good vision are a team.
- Carrots may help to prevent cancer.
You’d think there would be a lot of studies on carrots and vision. After all, we’ve spent a lifetime hearing that carrots and good vision are a team. However, studies on this concept are surprisingly limited.
According to the George Mateljan Foundation, few studies have been conducted on this concept. That said, small studies have demonstrated the benefits of carrots on the eyes.
One such study, conducted by UCLA, found that females who eat carrots two or more times a week have reduced rates of glaucoma in comparison to subjects who ate carrots less than one time a week. And other studies have shown that a phytonutrient found in carrot seeds (geranyl acetate) may reduce the risk of cataracts. However, these studies have focused solely on animals.
Want to give your body a leg up on preventing cancer? Reach for a serving of carrots.
Experts have found that carrots may fight cancer because they're rich in polyacetylenes. These components, found in carrots and related vegetables, naturally ward off cancer and other body threats.
Studies have found that polyacetylenes can reduce inflammation and have been shown fight cancer in rats. A Chinese study even found that carrots can decrease the risk of prostate cancer significantly.
- They are filled with beta-carotene
- Carrots are good for your teeth.
- They’re a great addition to a weight-loss plan.
Carrots are filled with antioxidants, which help the body fight a natural enemy known as free radicals. Free radicals are unwelcome pests that fuel both aging and disease.
One of the most interesting antioxidants found in carrots is beta-carotene. This carotenoid is important to the body for many reasons. According to Medline Plus, beta-carotene is thought to decrease exercise-related asthma symptoms. It also may protect against cancer, heart disease and even sunburn. And, of course, antioxidants in general fight the aging process.
We often think of milk when it comes to healthy teeth. But did you know that carrots can be good for your teeth as well?
According to Full Circle, carrots have the ability to “act as natural abrasives.” They do this by both stimulating the gums and ridding the teeth of plaque. Plus, carrots contain natural germ-busting nutrients that fight bad breath.
There’s a reason that many weight-loss plans look past carrots in the way of calories. It would take a heck of a lot of carrots to gain weight. That’s because carrots are naturally low in calories.
So go ahead, snack on carrots. They make for a great alternative to chips and sweets and can be combined with nutritional powerhouses (like hummus) to create the perfect snack. Yum!