Who doesn’t love hearing the crunch as you bite into a juicy carrot? We have all had the experience of doing this as kids. Carrot, also called Daucuscarota, is a root veggie. They are a good source of vitamins and antioxidants and Here you know about science proven – benefits of carrots on your skin, hair, and general health.
Children are often asked to eat more carrots as it benefits eye health, and we are also familiar with is carrots being given to babies during the teething phase to soothe their itchy gums. Scroll down to find out and learn more about the umpteen benefits it offers and make it a part of your diet!
Importance Of Carrots:
The importance of carrots is seen not only health-wise but also for skin and hair.
- Carrots contain antioxidants, which help the body in the removal of free radicals and unstable molecules that causes cell damage.
- It plays a vital role in reducing cardiovascular disease and the risks of cancer. Beta-carotene is one of the essential nutrients found in carrots. Consuming carotenoid-rich foods lowers the risk of colon cancer.
- Carrots contain potassium and fibre, which in turn helps in better management of blood pressure.
- Another antioxidant, provided by carrots, is vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to the production of collagen, (1) which is the key component in wound healing, and keeps our bodies healthy. It helps the body to fight disease.
- Carrot benefits for men and women are innumerable. You can include carrots in your diet in the form of smoothies, halwas, and milkshakes.
- Carrots contain vitamin K and calcium in small amounts that contribute to our bone health.
Nutritional Value Of Carrots:
Carrots are nutrient-rich and contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamin A found in carrots plays a significant role in taking care of our eye health.
Nutrients found in 1 medium sized raw carrot:
- Energy: (calories) 25
- Carbohydrate: (g) 5.8 — including 2.9 g of sugar
- Fiber: (g) 1.7
- Calcium: (milligrams [mg]) 20.1
- Phosphorus: (mg) 21.4
- Potassium: (mg) 195
- Vitamin C: (mg) 3.6
- Folate: (mcg DFE) 11.6
- Vitamin A: (mcg RAE) 509
- Beta Carotene: (mcg) 5,050
- Alpha Carotene: (mcg) 2,120
- Lutein & Zeaxanthin: (mcg) 156
- Vitamin E: (mg) 0.4
- Vitamin K: (mcg) 8.1
- Carrots also contain various B vitamins and traces of iron and other minerals.
Amazing Health Benefits Of Carrots:
In this article, we have included some of the handpicked and most researched benefits of carrot for the entire body. Add this superfood in your menu and enjoy the advantages of carrot for skin and hair too.
1. Improves Vision:
Carrots are all that you need to improve your vision. Beta-carotene and Vitamin A, which is essential for our vision, are found in carrots. Eye health is one of the significant health benefits of consuming carrots known to everyone.
Carrots cannot cure existing eye-related issues, but they can prevent those caused due to vitamin A deficiency. Beta-carotene is changed to Vitamin A by the body, and that is imperative for good eyesight. Carrots can counteract cataracts and macular degeneration, and besides, helps night vision.
Read: Arrowroot Powder Health Benefits
2. Reduces The Risk Of Cancer:
The pros of carrots make it one of the vegetables loved by all packed with disease-fighting nutrients. It contains beta-carotene, an antioxidant that, according to scientists, slows the growth of cancer cells. It contains falcarinol, a phytonutrient, which promotes colon health and reduces the risk of cancers.
Carrots help to fight against all types of cancer from lung cancer to breast cancer (2) to gallbladder cancer, and everything is taken care of by it. Carrots have bioflavonoids, which can lower the dangers of tumours, especially lung malignancy.
3. Builds Your Immunity:
To build your immune system and make it strong, the consumption of carrots is essential. Carrots contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps the immune system to destroy disease-causing germs. The body transforms beta-carotene to vitamin A, and that helps to boost the immune system.
Carrot is a good source of vitamin and antioxidants that prevent damage to cells and prevent fat in the bloodstream that can further lead to blocked arteries stroke and heart disease.
4. Dental Health:
Carrots are vital to take care of teeth-related problems. It helps to keep teeth healthy and white. The crunchy nature of carrots scrape off the plaque and food particles stuck to the teeth. It stimulates the gums and causes salivation, which being alkaline helps to balance out acid along with cavity-forming bacteria. Carrots contain minerals that also prevent tooth damage. Carrots keep teeth clean and healthy.
5. Menstrual Cramp and Stomach Problems:
Menstrual cramps and stomach problems are quite common among women. A smart and effective way to prevent such issues is by adding a carrot to your diet. During menstruation, drinking carrot juice is one of the easiest ways to deal with problems related to painful periods. It regularizes blood flow. Eating raw carrot or drinking juice makes one feel less fatigued during those days.
Carrots work wonders during menstruation because it is rich in iron and beta-carotene. It helps to control heavy bleeding and helps to regularize irregular periods, and the importance of carrot is evident here.
6. Improves Your Digestive System:
Carrot juice helps to improve digestion. It stimulates the digestive juices. It also reduces inflammation and provides one with sufficient vitamins and fiber that keeps one full for a longer time. Among the merits of carrot, it contains soluble fiber, which benefits the digestive organs in many ways. It promotes digestion and prevention of gastric cancer (3). The soluble fiber in carrots is essential to regulate metabolism and also helps to keep the cholesterol levels healthy.
7. Lowers Cholesterol:
The benefits of raw carrots are that they are known to reduce cholesterol levels, as they contain large amounts of soluble fiber. Carrots are rich in carotene, which offers protection against certain types of cancer like prostate, stomach, and colon cancers. Women with high levels of carotenoids may be at a reduced risk for breast cancer.
Study results show that people who ate around a measure of carrots every day for three weeks brought down their blood cholesterol levels, according to a survey and fall in the list of benefits of eating a carrot.
8. Boost Memory:
Carrots are known to be good for eye health, is good for the brain too. One of the pros of carrot is that it contains a high level of a compound called luteolin. It can reduce age-related deficits in memory and also for inflammation in the brain. Carrots are a package of nutrients that help by boosting memory and preventing memory loss. It reduces the risk of age-related memory problems and dementia.
9. Aid Weight Loss:
Carrot benefits for weight loss are immense as carrots are low in calories and are full of fiber, so they can be ideally the one superfood for weight loss. Carrot juice can be made delicious by adding orange or ginger to it, as this enhances the taste, and consuming the juice without straining would be a better choice to enjoy its benefits to the fullest.
10. Diabetes Control:
Carrot is a nutrient-rich veggie that makes it a wonderful choice to add to the diet of a diabetic. Being rich in fiber helps to regulate the blood glucose level in our body, and this is extremely beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. Make sure to add this vegetable as it a healthy choice for a person with diabetes.
11. Lower Blood Pressure:
Carrots, being rich in potassium, and beta-carotene has been extremely effective in reducing high blood pressure. Carrot juice helps to maintain healthy blood pressure. In other words, the bunny food is nothing but ideally a blood-pressure medication in disguise.
Carrots help to get the blood pressure into a healthy range, as they are rich in potassium. They act as a vasodilator, thereby relaxing the tension in the blood vessels. Carrots are capable of negating the adverse effects of sodium. Consume this vegetable in the form of stews, broths, or soups.
12. Reduce The Risk of Heart Disease:
The AHA encourages people to add less salt to their meals and emphasizes eating foods containing potassium like carrots. Potassium can help the blood vessels to relax. In doing this, it can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.
Heart health is also immensely benefited by drinking carrot juice. It lowers the stress levels and can improve the immunity power of the body against various types of cardiovascular disease. Carrots aim to lower cholesterol and increases the body’s ability to digest fat.
Read: Nutritional Value of Beets
13. Improves Oral Health:
Chewing on carrot sticks helps to take care of our dental health. Eating it raw helps to keep not only your teeth but also your gums clean. Biting and chewing this hard veggie also helps you to stimulate saliva that helps to clean your gums and teeth. It is good to teach this in young children to protect and take care of their oral health.
14. Benefits of Carrots During Pregnancy:
Benefits of carrots during pregnancy are multiple as they are a good source of vitamins B6 and C, and fiber. Carrot juice during pregnancy is a popular choice and is a powerful antioxidant. A lot of immense goodness can be obtained from carrots during pregnancy, as pregnant women may experience cramping and stiffness in their muscles during pregnancy. They help prevent cramping and take care of the health of the mother, as well as the unborn baby.
Carrot Benefits For Skin:
Here are our 6 best carrot uses for skin. Let’s have a look into them.
15. Treats Dull Skin:
One of the best ways to have glowing skin during winter is to add carrots to your diet. Carrots contain beta-carotene and lycopene, which protects the skin from UV damage. Though the sun is not too bright during winter, there are still UV rays present.
The carrot contains vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants that uneven skin tone and dry skin issues at bay. It keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated. It is a known fact that deficiency in vitamin A leads to numerous skin issues like rashes, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
16. Protects Skin From Oxidative Damage:
UV radiation and environmental toxins can harm your skin and separate collagen, leading to the appearance of wrinkles and different indications of skin maturing. The advantages of carrots are that the beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, carotenoids, and cancer prevention agents got from carrots safeguard your skin against free radical harm, which makes consumption of carrots a valuable skin benefit. Carrots play a significant role in protecting the skin from irreversible sun damage, and they help to flush out toxins.
17. Sun Protection:
Yes, we all know the rules one should follow to protect ourselves from the sun. Apart from using sunscreen or carrying an umbrella, not many are aware of the health benefits of carrots. The humble carrot, with its an excellent source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant pigment with sun-protective powers, provides a natural sunscreen.
A medium-sized carrot per day is all that one needs for sun-protective benefits. Consumption of this veggie helps a great deal to restore health and leave you with beautiful and brighter-looking skin.
18. Anti-Ageing Benefits:
Regular consumption of carrots protects the skin from oxidative stress and damage. Did you know that among carrot uses for skin, carrots have anti-ageing properties? Yes, you read, right! This vibrant orange-coloured root vegetable improves the elasticity of the skin. It helps to get rid of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Carrots leave the skin looking much younger, and by consuming them on an everyday basis, keep the skin firm and get rid of black spots, uneven skin tone, and pigmentation. The antioxidant protects the skin from free radicals, leaving you with great looking youthful skin.
19. Maintains Healthy Skin Tone:
Carrot benefits for skin are innumerable and are effective. Carrots contribute a lot to having a healthy complexion. The main reason being, vitamin A helps to repair skin tissue and protect it against the sun’s harsh rays. Adding more carrots to your diet will give a healthy look to your skin from within.
Carrots are abundant in vitamin C and antioxidants. The anti-inflammatory properties found in the carrot revitalize skin tone. Carrots contain Vitamin C, which aids collagen production. This is vital for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and prevents signs of ageing like the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and pigmentation.
Read: Taro Root Health Benefits
20. Reduce Oily Skin:
Carrots are suitable not only for the eyes, but they benefit the skin too! Carrots contain vitamin A and beta-carotene. Beta-carotenes, when taken internally, acts as an immune booster, and when applied topically, these vitamins and minerals help to fight against skin damage caused by external factors. You can make carrot facemasks using carrot peels for obtaining clear and bright skin.
Carrots are vital in skincare as it works great on oily skin, improves complexion, hydrates skin, rejuvenates it by removing dead cells, and gives a glowing complexion. Carrot masks can clarify and tone the skin. Carrot juice for glowing skin is suitable for people with oily skin. They revitalize the skin and make dull skin look bright, and works wonderfully well as a cleanser by removing the built-up residue on the skin effectively.
Carrot Benefits For Hair:
Here are our 2 best carrot uses for hair. Let’s have a look into them.
21. Helps In Stimulating Hair Growth:
Carrots are useful in combating hair loss because they offer vital vitamins to the hair, making it look shinier, thicker, glossier, longer, and healthier. The vitamin A in carrots stimulates the production of sebum, which conditions the scalp and fights against hair loss. Vitamins B, C, E, phosphorus, and magnesium improve blood circulation in the scalp. This, in turn, promotes hair growth.
Carrot juice benefits for hair are immense as the beta-carotene in carrots provides colour and lustre to the hair. It strengthens hair follicles and restores the quality of hair. Vitamin C helps too by nourishing the hair.
22. Combats Hair Problems:
Now all of us have faced hair problems, especially common ones like split ends, dryness, dullness, and roughness. Carrot juice benefits provide a quick and easy solution to this problem.
How To Include Carrot In Your Diet?
There are several ways of including carrots in our diet. They can be cooked, boiled, or steamed. One can enjoy the benefits of cooked carrots by trying out various recipes.
- Carrots are the main ingredient in fried rice along with vegetables like beans, carrot, and corn. As carrots have high water content, it can give you the impression of feeling full. As carrots contain a lot of fiber, they are essential and help in digestive health.
- You can make pickles with carrots where you can add pickled carrots to your salad and get the much needed-healthy gut-friendly bacteria.
- Another option would be to try carrot tea or use them in dips where carrots can be roasted until they are soft and make them into a dip by adding cream and some spices to it. The goodness of carrots can be enjoyed by both the young and the old.
- Many more options make it easy to add carrots for different recipes that would be liked by all in cakes and muffins too!
Read: Nutritional Value of Radishes
Carrot Side Effects:
- Intake of carrots either raw or in juice form should be taken in moderation, as overconsumption of vitamin A can end up being toxic and result in orange tint to the skin.
- Some people may even be allergic to carrots. They may end up with hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling after consuming carrots and may require urgent medical care. If the symptoms become severe, they may end up experiencing anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening reaction.
- Consuming large amounts of carotenoids from food over a long period can have no harmful effects, but there are disadvantages of eating a carrot in excess. The only thing that can happen is for the skin to turn orange or yellow over a long period, and this effect is called carotenoderma.
Get ready to reap the countless benefits of this extraordinary vegetable as we discuss the merits of adding carrots to your diet. They are beneficial both for the young and the old. Carrots help in giving you not only good health but work tremendously on your skin and hair health too. Whether cooked or eaten raw, there is no shortage of advantages one can enjoy from this amazing vegetable!
