10 Health Benefits Of Carrots

Forget about vitamin A pills. With this orange crunchy powerfood, you
get vitamin A and a host of other powerful health benefits including
beautiful skin, cancer prevention, and anti-aging. Read how to get
maximum benefits from this amazing vegetable.

Benefits of Carrots

1. 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.

2. Cancer Prevention

Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, chest
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 by
carrot-eating mice.

3. Anti-Aging

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

4. Healthy Glowing Skin (from the inside)

Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage.
Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails.
Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation,
blemishes, and uneven skin tone.

5. A Powerful Antiseptic

Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used
on cuts - shredded raw or boiled and mashed.

6. Beautiful Skin (from the outside)

Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask.
Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey.

7. Prevent 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 fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.

8. Cleanse the Body

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

9. Healthy Teeth and Gums

It's all in the crunch! 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.

10. Prevent Stroke:

From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in 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 less.
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