Showing posts with label Health benefits of carrots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health benefits of carrots. Show all posts

8.8.16

Health benefits of carrots


Carrots are one of the most popular, versatile vegetables in the world! Whether they are eaten raw, cooked or juiced, people from nearly every culture have consumed carrots in their many forms throughout history.
Sweet and crunchy, carrots are also called as ‘Gajar‘ in Hindi, ‘Gajjara gadda‘ in Telugu, ‘Mangal Mullangi‘ in Tamil, ‘Karat‘ in Malayalam, ‘Gajjari‘ in Kannada, ‘Gazar‘ in Marathi, ‘Gajar‘ in Punjabi and ‘Gujar/Gajor‘ in Bengali. Carrots have been an important part of vegetarian diets. Who doesn’t love munching on fresh and sweet carrots?
Carrots are often used in juice therapy for the treatment of certain diseases. In fact, carrots were initially grown as medicine for treating a variety of ailments. This vegetable can be eaten both in its raw and cooked forms. It serves as a fat substitute when used as a thickener in soups, sauces, casseroles and quick breads. A steaming bowl of carrot soup is a great way to boost your nutrition in winter.

This crunchy power food is low in calories and contains no fat. However, it can provide you with high doses of vitamin A and other antioxidants. Here are the benefits of eating carrot – for skin, hair 
and health.
Carrots have a wealth of valuable nutrition and when you juice them, you can get a concentrated dose of their healing power. From balancing blood sugar, improving blood health, relieving congestion, fighting inflammation and cleansing the kidneys to protecting eyesight, brain function and fighting Leukemia, carrot juice benefits can help nearly every part of your body
We are fortunate to have the results of a new 10-year study from the Netherlands about carrot intake and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)—and those results are fascinating. Intake of fruits and vegetables in the study was categorized by color and focused on four color categories: green, orange/yellow, red/purple, and white. Out of these four categories, orange/yellow (and in particular, foods with deeper shades of orange and yellow) emerged as most protective against CVD. And even more striking, carrots were determined to be the most prominent member of this dark orange/yellow food category. Participants who had the least carrot intake had the least amount of CVD risk reduction, even though they still received risk-reducing benefits from their carrot intake. However, participants who ate at least 25 more grams of carrots (with 25 grams being less than one-quarter of a cup) had a significantly lower risk of CVD. And the groups of participants who ate 50- or 75-grams more had an even more greatly reduced risk of CVD! We're not sure how any study could better demonstrate how easy it can be to lower disease risk by making a food like carrot part of the everyday diet in such achievable amounts.
Benefits of Carrots.

. Improved Vision: 

Western culture’s understanding of carrots being ‘good for the eyes’ is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

Carrots For Glowing Skin:

The consumption of carrots keeps your skin healthy and vibrant as they are loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants. Carrots can also be used to prepare an inexpensive and convenient face mask. All you need to do is to mix grated carrot with some honey and apply it as a face mask to get glowing skin.

Boosts Skin Health and Wound Healing


Beta carotene is critical for healing any type of wound. Carrots have even been used as a poultice to help heal wounds for centuries due to their high beta carotene content. If you have any type of skin infection, cuts, or other wounds, you’ll find that carrots and carrot juice benefits your skin health by increasing your ability to heal faster and to fight infection and noticeable signs of skin inflammation.


Treatment of Skin Ailments:

Carrots are effective in the prevention and cure of various skin ailments. The antioxidants in this vegetable can treat skin conditions like pimples and acne, rashes, dermatitis and other skin problems caused due to Vitamin A deficiency. However, keep in mind not to consume carrots in excess as they can cause your skin to temporarily turn yellowish-orange in color.


Cancer

Antioxidants in carrots, including beta-carotene, may play a role in cancer prevention. Research has shown that smokers who eat carrots more than once a week have a lower risk of lung cancer,
4 while a beta-carotene-rich diet may also protect against prostate cancer.
The consumption of beta-carotene is also associated with a lower risk of colon cancer6 while carrot juice extract may kill leukemia cells and inhibit their progression.
Carrots also contain falcarinol, a natural toxin that protects carrots against fungal disease. It's thought that this compound may stimulate cancer-fighting mechanisms in the body, as it's been shown to cut the risk of tumor development in rats.Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.
Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk 

Decreases Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke

Eating more deeply colored orange vegetables like carrots decreases the risk ofcardiovascular disease, especially in adult women. Regardless of other cardiovascular risks, current research indicates that drinking carrot juice benefits heart health by lowering oxidative stress and improves the body’s defense against various forms of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.From all the above benefits it is no surprise that a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more.The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots binding with bile acids.
This effect is likely due to the high antioxidant content that carrots contain. Carrots also work to lower cholesterol, and boost bile production, which increases the body’s ability to digest fat. This not only helps your digestive system to properly absorb nutrition from your food, but also directly impacts the good cholesterol levels in your body — which protects your heart.
I
mportant for Maintaining Oral Health

The nutrients found in carrots help improve immunity, including the body’s ability to fight bacteria and toxins that enter through the mouth and live within the gums and teeth. Certain minerals in carrots can be antibacterial and help prevent cavities and tooth decay. (Carrots can also help remove plaque and stains from teeth if eaten after meals. Once eaten, the fiber in carrots also boosts immunity by acting as a natural digestive system brush, scrubbing away unwanted bacteria in the gut and promoting better digestion of immune-boosting nutrients.Carrots are beneficial for your teeth and mouth as they scrape off plaque and food particles. Carrots stimulate the gums and facilitate the formation of a lot of saliva. Saliva is alkaline in nature and balances the acid-forming and cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals present in carrots kill the harmful germs in the mouth and prevent tooth decay.
Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.
The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots binding with bile acids.




Anti-Ageing Benefits:

Carrots also contain Vitamin C that aids the collagen production in the body. Collagen is a type of protein that is vital for the maintenance of the skin elasticity. It helps prevent wrinkles and locks the process of aging. Vitamin A, being an antioxidant, also attacks the free radicals to prevent the signs of aging like wrinkles, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone.

Protects Brain Health & Cognitive Function

Carrots and carrot juice benefits brain health by helping to prevent against Alzheimer’sdisease, improving memory, and defending against other types of cognitive decline. This is due to carrot’s ability to lower oxidative stress in the brain that can weaken nerve signaling capacity.
Sun Protection:
    Beta-carotene, found in carrots, is a skin-friendly nutrient that is converted to vitamin A inside the body. It helps in repairing the skin tissues and provides protection against the sun’s harsh rays. The antioxidants and carotenoids protect and condition the skin to increase its immunity against the sun and heal sunburns. In fact, the consumption of carrot juice in summer acts as a natural sun block.


    A Powerful Antiseptic. 

    Known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts shredded raw or boiled and mashed.


    Hair Benefits Of Carrots:


    Since ages, carrots have been known to promote hair growth and add thickness to the hair. Being loaded with vitamin A, carrots offer the following benefits for your hair.

    Treatment Of Hair Loss:

    Carrots are great for combating hair loss as they provide your hair with vital vitamins, making them stronger, thicker and shinier. Drinking carrot juice makes your hair healthy. This is the best benefit of carrots for the hair.Consuming 3 to 4 ounces of carrot juice daily stimulates the hair growth and thickens your hair. Vitamin C and Vitamin E in carrots improve the circulation in the scalp, thus promoting hair growth and prevent premature graying of hair