Forget about vitamin A pills. With this orange
crunchy powerfood, you get vitamin A and a host of
other powerful health benefits including beautiful
skin, cancer prevention, and anti-aging. Read how
to get maximum benefits from this amazing
vegetable.
Benefits of Carrots
1. Improves vision
Western culture’s understanding of carrots being
“good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is
converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is
transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple
pigment necessary for night vision.
Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect
against macular degeneration and senile cataracts.
A study found that people who eat the most beta-
carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular
degeneration than those who consumed little.
2. Helps prevent cancer
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung
cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.
Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and
falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer
properties.
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 mice.
3. Slows down aging
The high level of beta-carotene acts as an
antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through
regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of
cells.
4. Promotes healthier skin
Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from
sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause
dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A
prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin,
pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.
5. Helps prevent infection
Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent
infection. They can be used on cuts – shredded
raw or boiled and mashed.
6. Promotes healthier skin (from the outside)
Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very
convenient facial mask. Just mix grated carrot with
a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face
mask .
7. Prevents heart disease
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.
8. Cleanses the body
Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins
from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the
liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out
the colon and hasten waste movement.
9. Protects teeth and gums
It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and
mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles
just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots
stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which
being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming,
cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots
prevent tooth damage.
10. Prevents stroke
From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in a
Harvard University study, people who ate more
than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a
stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month
or less.
On the plus side this fruit is cheap and available all over The country.
source: Healthy Living
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