5+ health benefits of carrots

Carrots are a popular root vegetable in the world that is used to prepare many dishes. Even though carrots have skyrocketed and only recently began to decline gradually, they remain in demand.

And for a good reason. This vibrant vegetable is rich in nutrients, low in calories, and has a delicious taste that even fussy kids can enjoy. Here are some more essential benefits of carrots.

Supports eye health

One hundred grams of fresh carrots contains twice the daily value of beta-carotene, a compound that is a precursor to vitamin A and supports eye and skin health.

Beta-carotene helps reduce the risk of macular degeneration, total vision loss, and night blindness.

Strengthens the immune system

In addition to beta-carotene, carrots also contain vitamin A itself (two thousand micrograms per hundred grams of the product), which strengthens the immune system, helping our body fight various infections.

The fact is that vitamin A supports the work of T-cells – white blood cells that promote the production of antibodies and destroy viral cells.

Beneficial effect on the skin

Eating foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. For these vitamins to be better absorbed, they should be eaten with a small number of fatty foods. For example, you can add carrots to a salad with olive oil or sunflower oil or use a baked vegetable as a side dish with oily fish.

It helps to lose weight

The fibre in carrots not only improves digestion but also helps maintain a healthy weight. Dietary fibre keeps a feeling of fullness for a long time, leading to a decrease in the total caloric content of the diet and the gradual loss of extra pounds.

So, if you want to lose weight, you need to add vegetables, including carrots, to your diet.

Improves intestinal function

Carrots are a high fibre product. And dietary fibre improves digestion and promotes overall intestinal health.

Raw carrots contain the most fibre because cooking the vegetable breaks down the fibre walls, making it softer but less healthy.

Fights inflammation in the body

Although purple carrots are not as popular as regular orange ones, they deserve a place on our table too. Purple carrots are high in anthocyanins, substances that have antioxidant properties and fight inflammation in the body.

Reducing inflammation is very important because it can lead to heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.