What Are The Benefits Of Carrots?
Carrots are just as healthy and delicious when eaten cooked or raw. In addition, carrots have multiple health benefits. If you’re wondering what health benefits this orange vegetable can have, read on!
The nutritional value of carrots
Carrots are full of beta-carotene, which gives the vegetable its orange color. In addition, they contain many beneficial nutrients including:
- vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, C, E, K
- choline
- minerals such as: potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus
This vegetable consists mainly of carbohydrates. It is also a great source of dietary fiber and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Finally, carrots are also low in calories, only 40 calories per 100 grams. For that reason, they are a good and healthy option for any balanced diet.
The many benefits of carrots
Carrots provide antioxidants for your body
Carrots are high in antioxidants, such as vitamin A, which help keep the body healthy. In addition, they also reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, such as colon and lung cancer. They also contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol, which is a powerful antioxidant.
In addition, carrots have a positive impact on vision, especially when it comes to improving night vision. This is because their beta-carotene and vitamin A help the cells of the retina to function properly.
Carrots help lower blood pressure
This vegetable is very beneficial for regulating blood circulation and ensuring that the heart and lungs have nutrients available to function properly.
Carrots also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help lower blood pressure. This is because potassium reduces the effects of sodium and causes the blood vessel walls to decrease tension.
Don’t overdo your consumption
While carrots have many benefits, overeating them can cause negative side effects. It is therefore important not to exaggerate with how often and how many carrots you eat.
One example is a condition called carotenemia, in which the palms and feet and other areas of the skin turn an orange or yellowish color. This is due to the high concentration of carotene in the blood. However, the condition itself is harmless, so simply reducing your intake of carrots will cure it.
Another problem that can arise from eating too many carrots is the combination with an excessive amount of vitamin A for a long period of time. If both are consumed in excess, you can get certain complaints such as:
- nausea
- dizziness
- vomit
- headache
If you don’t reduce your vitamin A intake, it can lead to a condition called hypervitaminosis A. This is a very serious condition caused by the build-up of toxic levels of the vitamin in the liver and will require medical treatment.
However, hypervitaminosis A rarely occurs from eating foods containing vitamin A alone. Usually, supplements are needed to obtain the levels of vitamin A needed to cause this condition.