Carrots and their Benefits

Carrots and their Benefits

1. Carrots are believed to help in improving night vision.
2. Carrots reduce the risk of cancers.
3. Carrots reduce the risk of heart disease.
4. Pilots in World War II were given Carrots to improve their night vision.

Carrots and their Benefits: Carrots

In the good olden days, carrots were believed to be good for the eyes.

1. Now because of research, due to the presence of various substances, it has been found that carrots:
   1. Prevents cancers.
   2. It lowers cholesterol.
   3. It prevents heart attacks.
   4. No doubt, carrots help vision.

Carrots are rich in:

1. β-Carotene:
   1. It is an oxidant compound.
   2. It will fight the free radicals.
      1. Free radicals are unstable molecules in our body, and these will contribute to:
         1. Heart disease.
         2. Cancers.
         3. Macular degeneration.
         4. Vision loss in older people.
2. α-Carotene:
   1. It also helps to fight cancers.
   2. Lung cancers are found in low α-carotene people.
3. β-carotene converts to vitamin A and improves vision.
   1. Vitamin A helps the vision by forming a purple pigment that the eyes need to see in the dim lights.
   2. This pigment (Rhodopsin)  is present in the light-sensitive area of the retina.
   3. The pigment (Rhodopsin) increases with the increase in vitamin A.
   4. People with a low level of vitamin A suffer from night blindness.
      1. It will make it a difficult night drive.

Contents of the carrots:

Importance of β-carotene:

1. A high level of carotene and vitamin C intake prevents cancer death.
2. Low carotene levels make people more prone to developing cancers, especially in the stomach and lungs.
3. Foods rich in carotene reduce the risk of heart disease.
4. A half cup of cooked carrots contains 12 mg of β-carotene, roughly twice the amount to get benefits.

How to get more carotene:

1. β-carotene needs fat for its passage through the intestine. So it is advised to use dip of dressings like ranch.
2. Carrots benefit more after cooking. This cooking may not be too much. Carrots have a lot of fibers, roughly 2 grams in one carrot.
   1. Cooking makes carotene easier to release from the fibers and absorption.
   2. Cooking may waste some of the carrots’ nutrients, so better not to throw the water but use it.
3. Another method to get more carotenes is to make the juice of carrots.
4. Cut out the green leaves when you buy the carrots with green leaves.

Disadvantages of eating too many carrots:

1. Eating too many carrots may cause abdominal cramps and pain.
2. Eating too many carrots may change skin color.
3. Drinking excess carrot juice may lead to carotenemia and color the skin. But this will happen if you drink a large amount of carrot juice.
   1. Take half a glass or 4 ounces of carrot juice daily.
4. Carrot juice will not spike the blood glucose level in diabetics.
5. Some people may have sensitivity to carrots.