7 Surprising Health Benefits to Eating Carrots

Carrots can be enjoyed in a variety of ways; you can either cook them or eat it raw. The GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI) of the raw vegetable is 35 and may slightly increase if cooked. We recommend steaming your carrots for maximum taste which is considered the healthiest way to cook any vegetable. If you want convenience then by all means eat the carrot raw, it will have less of its nutrients but will still retain a good portion of it.

Health Benefits of Carrots

 

1. Smooth Tanned Skin

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which prevents cell damage and premature aging. Beta-carotene may also protect your skin from sun damage.

Researchers even found that carotenoids, which are found in high concentrations in carrots, impart a warm glow “sufficient to convey perceptible improvements in the apparent healthiness and attractiveness of facial skin.”

 

2. Prevent Cancer

Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.

Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating rats.

 

3. Lower the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes

Carrots contain beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant associated with lower diabetes risk. In one study, those with the most beta-carotene in their blood had 32 percent lower insulin levels than those with lower levels of beta-carotene.

 

4. Stay Heart Healthy

Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.

The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.

 

5. Boost Immunity

Carrots contain a number of antiseptic and antibacterial abilities that make them ideal for boosting the immune system. Not only that, they are a rich source of vitamin C, which stimulates the activity of white blood cells and is one of the most important elements in the human immune system.

 

6. Lower Cholesterol

Carrots are a good source of soluble dietary fiber, which may be one reason they have been shown to lower cholesterol.

According to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, “fiber decreases blood cholesterol by binding to bile acids, which are made of cholesterol, in the gastrointestinal tract and carrying them out of the body as waste”.

 

7. Improve Eyesight

Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrots are rich in vitamin A, they are good for improving eyesight and preventing conditions like night blindness from developing as we age.