Colored orange, cylindrical and with a shoot of green at one end, carrot is often depicted in films and shows as that vegetable being munched by Warner Bros.’ famous wisecracking rabbit, Bugs Bunny.
This led many young minds to believe that carrots are a rabbit’s favorite food (it isn’t actually since rabbits consume a variety of vegetables). But while carrots are not always a bunny’s choice of food, did you know that this root vegetable is said to be the perfect health food for us humans?
That’s because in addition to being highly flexible in dishes and its innate crunchiness, carrots also contain an array of nutrients and offer health benefits. Let’s take a deeper look then, doc?
First and foremost, carrots are a great source of a number of vitamins and minerals. All of them are listed below:
- Potassium – helps regulate blood pressure
- Vitamin A – helps vision, growth and development
- Biotin – has an important role in protein metabolism
- Vitamin B6 – helps convert food to energy
- Vitamin K1 – helps promote overall bon health
Besides offering many vitamins, carrots are also known to contain little fat and is mainly composed of water and carbs.
However, despite having starch and sugar, carrots rank low on the glycemic index, which is good for people who need to control their blood sugar.
In addition, carrots also contain soluble fiber, which can be instrumental in helping you lower your blood sugar levels, while also feeding your gut’s friendly bacteria.
There’s also no shortage for carrots when it comes to health benefits. Some of them are found below.
Lower blood cholesterol – Heart disease usually stems from high blood cholesterol, and pulling it down should benefit you a lot.
Improve eye Health – Due to the vitamin A present in carrots, consuming the vegetable can help you maintain your eyesight and keep it healthy. Furthermore, the carotenoids in carrots can also help lower your risk of macular degeneration.
Promote weight loss – Due to its low-calorie level, carrots can help make you feel full while keeping the calories to a minimum. This is helpful especially if you’re on a diet.
Reduce the risk of cancer – Carrots are full of carotenoids, and a diet consisting of it has been known to help decrease the risk of certain cancer types, particularly those affecting the stomach, prostate and colon.