The Amazing Health Benefits of Carrots
There are many benefits of carrots and you can take advantage of them in both health and beauty. Thanks to their properties and magnificent results, carrots have been used for centuries.
Carrots were first cultivated in what is present-day Afghanistan, thousands of years ago. There were purple, white, yellow, and black varieties with a woody appearance and bitter flavor, but none of them resembled the current carrot we grow today.
During the seventeenth century, a carrot strain with high levels of beta-carotene was developed, which was the first orange carrot. Since then, this vegetable has quickly replaced the cultivation of other carrot species.
What’s in a carrot?
Among the nutrients found in carrots are the following:
- Minerals (potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, and selenium)
- 90% water
- 7% carbohydrates
- 1 gram of protein
- 3 grams of fiber
And if that weren’t enough, carrots also contain large quantities of vitamins C and A, as well as the B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, and folic acid). Lastly, carrots contain only 35 calories per 100 grams.
The Health benefits of carrots
Carrots have lots of properties that can benefit your health in various ways. Below, we’ll share some of the most common ones with you.
They fight cancer
Whether you steam them, boil them, eat them raw, cooked, blended, or fresh: carrots are always good for fighting the onset of cancer.
Carrots belong to a group of foods that have “promising effects” when it comes to cancer prevention. Along with other vegetables that are rich in carotenoids, such as spinach and tomatoes, carrots could specifically help prevent breast cancer.
They prevent vision problems
Of course, carrots won’t help you with problems such as myopia or astigmatism, because these require medical attention, but eating carrots from a young age may help you avoid developing these issues.
Eating raw carrots strengthens your teeth and gums
Eating raw vegetables like carrots improves blood flow to the mouth and prevents bacteria from building up on your teeth.
The fluorine content in foods such as carrots, spinach, and apples can keep your tooth enamel in good condition and prevent tooth decay.
They help control cholesterol levels
Along with the benefits of carrots for your cardiovascular health, this vegetable can also help reduce your cholesterol levels.
This is thanks to the high content of soluble fiber, especially pectin, which prevents fat from building up on the walls of your arteries. Carrots help eliminate that type of fat and reduce blood pressure.
They fight constipation and stomach pain
The high fiber content in carrots improves your body’s ability to eliminate waste and prevents constipation.
It also calms any stomach pain or excess acidity thanks to the mineral salt content made up of sodium, chlorine, potassium, and the B vitamins. This makes carrots a highly recommended option if you’re suffering from gastritis.
They have great diuretic properties
The high water content in carrots along with the many mineral salts helps break down kidney stones. This is why carrots are always included in cleansing diets.
For all of the above reasons, adding carrots to your diet will give you a lot of benefits while also being an excellent source of vitamins and mineral salts.
Like many other vegetables, carrots are easy to incorporate into any healthy recipe and are an essential component of a balanced diet.
Take advantage of this delicious recipe
Cream of carrot soup
It’s common to serve lunch with a bowl of soup, and today we want to share a recipe for cream of carrot soup with you. Learn how to prepare it and incorporate it into your meal plan.
Ingredients
- 2 carrots
- 3 broccoli
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 large onion
- 2 cups of water (500 ml)
- Salt, to taste
Preparation
- Add the water and other ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Cover and allow the liquid to reduce by half.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Add the soup to a blender and process until you get a creamy mixture.
- Serve and enjoy.
All vegetables contribute in some way to the healthy development of your body, so don’t forget to add them to your diet. While you might not like the taste of all of them, there are plenty of recipes that will make them more appetizing.