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Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
Carrot (Daucus carota) appears to have originated not far from modern India. It is thought to have originated in Northern parts of modern Iran or Afghanistan. However, it quickly spread to various parts of the world from there. It is one of the most consumed vegetables globally, with Russia, China, and the US being the most producing nations. There are many health benefits of carrots that make them such a successful vegetable. Carrots are easy to store and has a long shelf-life. They are packed with nutrition, moderately rich in calories, high-quality carbs, some proteins, an excellent source of vitamin A and K. Carrots have various bioactive compounds, antioxidants, and carotenoids. Thus, it is no surprise that since ancient times, people have consumed carrots in most of the places.
However, many people do not know that people preferred using carrots as a natural remedy in ancient times. Wild root was quite different from what it is now. Its size has considerably increased due to centuries of selective breeding and culture. Fortunately, it retains some of its original medicinal properties to date.
Potent source of antioxidants
When it comes to antioxidants, very few vegetables may compare to a carrot. That is why carrots are very beneficial for the eyes, brain, preventing cancers, slowing down aging, and even managing various chronic ailments. It can be consumed raw, cooked, or one may extract its juice.
Just 100 gms or less than a cup of carrots would provide more than 300% of a daily dose of vitamin A (above 16000 IU). In addition, it is rich in other vitamins like C & K.
However, carrots have many other antioxidants. Vitamin-like antioxidants are better in many ways as they are safer and do not cause any side effects. Thus, it contains carotenoids, lutein, anthocyanins, terpenoids, and many more.
Excellent for eye-health
Vitamin A is among the most vital vitamins for eye health. It has been long known that the most significant sign of vitamin A deficiency is loss of night vision. It is because vitamin A supports the integrity of various tissues. Just 100 gms of carrots are enough to manage mild to moderate vitamin A deficiency and boost vision acuity in various conditions. Its adequate intake may also have a protective role in vision.
However, it is essential to understand that the benefits of carrots for human vision extend beyond vitamin A. In fact, studies show that carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin in carrots are even more beneficial for eye health in the long run. Moreover, these antioxidants are safe even at higher dosages. These antioxidants are especially good at preventing age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of age-related vision impairment and blindness.
Boosts immunity
Regularly drinking carrot juice could be an excellent way of supporting immunity. A carrot is a rich source of vitamin A, C, B6, and other micronutrients known to boost immunity.
However, it appears that many immune-stimulating properties of carrots are due to carotenoids like lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and other antioxidants. In addition, there is some evidence from clinical studies that carrot juice can boost immunity. It may be especially good for boosting immunity when it has been suppressed for some reason.
Prevent and manage cancers
Carrot could be a highly nutritious and beneficial supplement for cancer prevention and management. For example, one of the studies found that drinking carrot juice for three days could help considerably suppress the growth of leukemia cells. Experts believe that these benefits are primarily due to beta-carotene and polyacetylenes.
Diabetes management
Carrot does not have much blood-glucose-lowering action; however, it may help manage diabetes in multiple ways. First and foremost, it could be an excellent source of nutrition that is safe for even those living with severe diabetes as carrots have a very low glycemic index. Secondly, carrots are a powerhouse of antioxidants known to help manage neuropathies, retinopathy and may even reduce the risk of vascular complications of diabetes. Thus, a cup or two of carrot juice in diabetes may be an excellent way to stay healthy.
Skin health
Vitamin A is especially good for skin health. It is needed for the regular replacement of skin cells. In addition, it is essential for maintaining the barrier function of skin, mucus membranes, and other tissues. Carrot juice may also support collagen production and help maintain skin elasticity.
Similarly, it is known that carotenoids can help protect skin from UV rays and also help prevent skin aging caused by exposure to sunlight.
Good for heart health
Vitamin A, carotenoids, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin are all good for vascular health. These antioxidants are known to protect blood vessels and prevent lipid peroxidation. Thus, regular consumption of carrots may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
One of the studies found that drinking carrot juice daily for three months could significantly enhance antioxidant levels in the blood. It also helped reduce systolic blood pressure a bit. However, carrot juice does not appear to reduce cholesterol levels.
Carrots may help protect the liver
Carrot juice can be a part of the detox programmes as it can help cleanse the body, boost liver and kidney health. It can considerably increase the body’s antioxidant capacity. Carrots also exert a protective effect on blood vessels. It is pretty good for improving metabolic activity, weight control, reducing obesity, and much more.
Final thoughts
Carrot is a powerhouse of nutrition, one of the richest natural sources of vitamin A and carotenoids. Moreover, it differs from other vegetables in the way that it can be stored for a long. As a result, it plays an important role in human nutrition and the world’s food security.
It can help in a range of disease conditions, from improving eyesight to preventing vision loss due to aging. Carrots may also benefit your skin, as it may slow down skin aging. So, it may be an excellent addition to the anti-aging program and may be pretty good for detoxifying the body.
It is worth remembering that carrots are rich in vitamin A and carotenoids. Thus, drinking its juice daily in large amounts may cause carotenemia, resulting in the skin turning yellow.
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