Saturday, February 2, 2013

• 7 Health Benefits of Carrots

Carrots are a favorite vegetable in cultures all over the world. They're great as a healthy raw snack, juiced, or cooked with other vegetables in soups and stir fries, but the best thing about carrots is how good they are for us.
Here are 7 health benefits of carrots:

Cancer Prevention
The high levels of antioxidants in carrots help to lower the risk of cancer. Studies have found that carrots may help to prevent three of the most common types of cancer: breast, lung, and colon cancer. They are one of the only food sources of falcarinol, a natural pesticide and fatty alcohol that research has found may prevent cancer.
Better Digestion
Carrots are a great source of fiber, which is important for keeping the digestive system running properly. It also helps to keep you feeling full so you end up eating less.
Healthy Eyes
Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body and is essential for eye health. It improves night vision and prevents age-related eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Anti-Aging
The vitamin A in carrots helps the skin by helping to get rid of damaged cells and regenerating new ones. Vitamin A also keeps the skin protected from harmful UV rays, retards aging, prevents acne, helps dry skin, and improves the complexion.
Heart Health
One study found that heart disease risk was lowered by 32% in people who ate just .88 ounces of carrots per day. Another study that tracked seniors found that those who ate a cup of carrots or squash each day lowered their heart disease risk by a whopping 60 percent. Some studies also show a link between beta-carotene consumption and reduced risk of heart problems.
Cholesterol Levels
The fiber in carrots helps to lower cholesterol levels. The magnesium in carrots also helps to regulate cholesterol.
Weight Loss
Carrots are high in nutrition and low in calories, which means that you can fill your stomach without eating too many calories. Additionally, carrots help improve the function of the metabolism because they contains nicotine acid to break down the lipids and fats that are present within the body.

No comments:

Post a Comment