This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of carrots (Daucus carota)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What happens if you eat carrots everyday? What does Carrot do to the body? Is it good to eat raw carrots? Where did carrots come from originally? How did carrots become orange? What were carrots originally used for?
Carrot is a widely used root vegetable (usually orange in color) that is used all around the world as one of the most popular food ingredients. Because of their high nutrition value, presence of ß-carotene, dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals, flexibility for processing in many kinds of ways and the ability to remain edible even after months of reliable storing in both ordinary or refrigerated places, carrot instantly became embraced wherever it appeared after it was carried out from its home in Iran and Afghanistan. During its journey across centuries and continents, countless botanists managed to improve the composition, look, flavor and size of ancient carrots and produce the modern orange-colored carrot that appeared first in 17th century Netherlands. Tradition of medicinal carrot usage moved from Egypt to Greece and Rome in 1st millennia BC. There, bitter and hard to eat carrots were used as a healing remedy for many illnesses, and was especially used as a sexual aphrodisiac (the most famous recorded instance of such use happened during the reign of Roman emperor Caligula). As for eating in regular meals, Romans were known to boil carrots and eat it with live dressings and various herbs. By 13th century carrots traveled from Persia to Asia, reaching distant Japan. During same time, European carrot started being cultivated in gardens and fields of France and Germany. Those carrots were biter, but they were nutritious and its popularity enabled quick spread across entire Europe. In 1609, English settlers of the New World started cultivating Carrots in their first city of Jamestown, Virginia (20 years later production moved to Massachusetts. Brazil was the first South American country to receive carrots in mid-17th century, and not much later carrot arrived to Australia.
One serving of carrots is a half cup and it contains:
- 25g calories
- 6g of carbohydrates
- 2g of fiber
- 3g of sugar
- 0.5g of protein
- 73% of vitamin A
- 9% of vitamin K
- 8% of potassium and fiber
- 5% of vitamin C
- 2% of calcium and iron
- Carrots are good for the eyes because they contain carotenoids or vitamin A which helps in improving the eye health
- Helps in Weight Loss
- Carrots contain falcarinol, a poly-acetylene antioxidant that helps in destroying cancerous cells in the tumours
- Eating raw carrots can help improve your dental health because it not only helps in getting rid of plaque and food particles from the teeth, but also helps in the production of saliva by stimulating the gum
- Carrots are loaded with antioxidants which is very beneficial in boosting the immune system
- Ample amounts of vitamin A in carrots help in removing the toxins from the body, and also prevent the accumulation of fat and bile in the liver, thus keeping it healthy
- Carrots contain good amounts of fibre in them which is not only effective in aiding the digestion, but also in clearing bowl movements effectively
- Carrots helps in dealing with the menstrual issues
- Ample amounts of potassium in the body not only relaxes the arteries and blood vessels, but also helps in improving blood circulation, thus lowering the blood pressure
- Carrots help regulate the blood sugar levels and thus, aid in the prevention of diabetes
- Helps in stimulating Hair growth
- Helps in preventing hair loss
- Helps in treating skin ailments
- Carrots may help in dealing with skin dryness because carrots are loaded with potassium
- Helps in providing sun protection for the skin
- The presence of beta-carotene in carrots acts as an antioxidant that helps in reversing cell damage, which occurs due to the body’s regular metabolism
- The antioxidants present in carrots are also beneficial in healing scars and blemishes on the skin
- Carrots are packed with nutrients that act as beauty boosters for the skin due to the presence of vitamin A and E
- For some people, eating carrots can make their mouths itch (this is something called oral allergy syndrome)
- Too much beta-carotene may cause problems for people who can’t change it to vitamin A, such as people who have hypothyroidism
- It can make your skin turn an orange-yellow color (this condition is called carotenemia). It’s relatively harmless and usually can be treated, but in extreme cases, it can keep vitamin A from doing its job and affect your vision, bones, skin, metabolism, or immune system