We all know that carrots are one of the most nutritious vegetable and we mostly find them served on many food recipes.  Carrots are the most potent source of Vitamin A and beta carotene which is good for your eye’s health.

The nutrition in carrots are tightly encased in protein sacs that have to be broken by heat through cooking or mechanical action like grinding, juicing, proper chewing. Cooking the carrots in fat, oils or pureeing, juicing them increases the availability of carotenoids by tenfold.

If you are curious about the other health benefits of carrots, here are some you might be interested to know.

8 Benefits of Carrots

1. It promotes healthy teeth and gums

Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste.  Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid forming, cavity forming bacteria.  The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.

2. It prevents heart 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.
The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibre in carrots binding with bile acids.

3. It cleanses your body

Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibre present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.

4. It promotes healthy glowing skin

It’s Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, uneven skin tone. Carrots can also be used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask.  Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey.

5. It has anti-aging properties

The high levels beta-carotene act as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.  It help slows down the aging of cells.

6. May fight cancer

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.

7. It can prevent stroke

In a recent study, people who ate five or more carrots a week were less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.

8. It improves your vision

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.

Also read: 8 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK TEA