The benefits of carrots are a pity to miss (not only healthy for the eyes)

Did you know that when you were first discovered, carrots were not used as food. This multi-colored tuber was actually used as medicine first. In fact, what are the benefits of carrots for body health? Come on, thoroughly peel the benefits of this vegetable that many people adore

Come on, get to know carrots more deeply

Source: Julie Daniluk

Who is familiar with this one vegetable? Yes, carrots are very popular because they are easily found in every corner of the world. Carrots are included in the type of root tubers that are formed at the roots of plants. That is why this tuber does not develop and grow above the soil surface, but in the soil.

When you cultivate these tubers, what will show above the soil surface are the leaves. Carrot leaves have a shape similar to a fern or parsley which is light green in color. At the base of the leaves, sometimes decorated with white flowers. When eaten, the flowers taste sweet but have a distinctive odor that is less pleasant in the mouth.

Compared to the flowers, the taste of this plant bulb is much better. The tubers are sweet, crunchy, and don't smell bad. That is why people mostly use the tuber part to make various dishes.

Carrots have a Latin name, namely Daucus carota L.If you notice, carrots are almost the same shape as turnips. It's just that the size is usually much slimmer and there are small stripes on the sides.

The food that this rabbit likes does have many colors, ranging from blackish purple, white, yellow, orange, and red like beets. However, in Indonesia, carrots that are usually sold in the market are bright yellow and orange.

Although first known as medicine, daucus carota still has many benefits when used as food. You can process it into soup, stir-fry, salad, juice mixture, eat it raw, and even make chips.

Carrot nutrition

Carrots are a food that is rich in nutrients and full of benefits. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, in 100 grams of fresh carrots, you can use 80% of the tubers. Here are some of the nutritional content of carrots that you need to know, including:

Macronutrients

Water (Water): 89.9 g
Energy (Energy): 36 Kal
Protein (Protein): 1.0 g
Fat (Fat): 0.6 g
Carbohydrates (CHO): 7.9 g
Fiber (Fiber): 1.0 g

Mineral

Calcium (Ca): 45 mg
Phosphorus (P): 74 mg
Iron (Fe): 1.0 mg
Sodium (Na): 70 mg
Potassium (K): 245.0 mg
Copper (Cu): 0.06 mg
Zinc (Zn): 0.3 mg

Vitamins and antioxidants

Beta-Carotene (Carotenes): 3,784 mcg
Total Carotene (Re): 7,125 mcg
Thiamin (Vit. B1): 0.04 mg
Riboflavin (Vit. B2): 0.04 mg
Niacin (Niacin): 1.0 mg
Vitamin C (Vit. C): 18 mg

Carrots have many types of antioxidants that are very good for the body, including:

• Beta carotene. Carrots that are orange in color are very high in beta carotene. The absorption process by the body will be better if the carrots are cooked.
• Alpha carotene. Apart from beta carotene, tubers with various colors also contain antioxidants from vitamin A in the form of alpha carotene.
• Lutein.Yellow, white, and yellowish carrots contain lots of lutein. This is an antioxidant that is very good for eye health.
• Lycopene and anthocyanins.Red vegetables and fruits have lots of lycopene and antioxidants, including red and purple carrots. These antioxidants are very good for heart health.
• Polyacetylenes: Recent research has identified bioactive compounds in carrots that may help protect blood cell health.

Benefits of carrots for health

Source: Medical News Today

When viewed from the nutritional content of carrots, you would have guessed that this tuber has abundant benefits. Anything? Here are the benefits of a plant called beautiful Daucus carota which is a shame if you just miss it.

1. Potential to prevent cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease. Almost all parts of your body can get cancer, from the outermost part, namely the skin, to internal organs, such as the liver. This disease causes healthy cells to grow and develop abnormally. Over time other healthy tissue can spread, until it metastasizes to parts of your bones, lungs and brain.

Based on many studies, the nutritional content of carrots can protect you from cancer. One of them is because this tuber has antioxidants in it. There are several studies that show the potential for carrots to prevent various types of cancer, such as:

Lung cancer

A study reports that the benefits of beta carotene present in carrots with the development of lung cancer risk. These antioxidants are said to be able to prevent the formation of cancer in the lungs. It's just not in supplement form, but from vegetables and fruit, for example carrots.

This will be even more effective if people at risk also stop smoking, reduce exposure to chemicals that irritate the lungs, and change their lifestyle to be healthier.

Blood cancer (leukemia)

Apart from having benefits for preventing lung cancer, research also reports on the potential of carrots in preventing blood cancer. Carrots that contain agents, such as beta carotene and polyacetyl are excellent sources of bioactive chemicals for the treatment of leukemia.

Colon cancer

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports on the benefits of carrots. The content of beta carotene, lycopene and other antioxidants which are also present in spinach, broccoli, or lettuce can help reduce the risk of colon cancer if consumed regularly.

2. Maintain blood pressure and heart health

Carrots contain fiber, potassium, and are complete with antioxidants such as lycopene. Well, these two nutrients are believed to keep blood pressure stable. In addition, carrots also do not contain bad cholesterol which is good for blood vessels.

The benefits of carrots will be obtained if you eat carrots and other fresh vegetables and fruits, not those that have been packaged (canned vegetables or fruit). If your blood pressure is maintained, it means you avoid hypertension and heart disease.

3. Maintain oral health

Cavities are the most common complaint for many people. Starts from children to adults. This condition occurs because the teeth are filled with plaque so that they become brittle easily. For that, you need to keep your teeth clean to stay healthy.

Apart from brushing your teeth, eating certain vegetables can also protect your teeth. Chewing carrots, celery, and other fibrous and strong vegetables can actually stimulate the gum muscles to get stronger. This also helps the production of more saliva so that it can clean the mouth from stuck food debris. Carrots also contain beta carotene which is necessary for building strong teeth.

4. Maintain eye health

Carrots are known for their vitamin A content which is very good for the eyes. Therefore, many parents deliberately introduce this food to their children at a young age. The benefits of carrots can help prevent eye disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and refractive errors (myopia, astigmatism and hypermetropy).

Eye problems do not cause death. However, it can make a person's quality of life decrease and of course the risk of causing accidents that end in death.

4. Maintain brain health

As you get older, your brain's ability and function will decrease. That is why many adults and parents are forgetful and slow to learn new things. One of the problems in the brain that is prone to attack the elderly is dementia.

This disease is caused by oxidative stress which causes brain and nerve cells not to regenerate properly. Well, carrots that contain beta carotene are believed to reduce oxidative stress. Even in small amounts, this proves that carrots can maintain brain function.

5. Antiaging and improve skin health

Free radicals can cause inflammation and create wrinkles and dark spots on the face. If you continue to be exposed, aging can occur more quickly. In addition to using skin protection products from exposure to UV rays, you can slow down aging of the skin by eating nutritious foods.

Foods that contain antioxidants, such as carotenoids and polyphenols in carrots, for example. These tubers, which are easy to process into various menus, can actually keep your skin young.

Apart from maintaining healthy skin, carrots also have good benefits for people with skin diseases. Regular consumption of carrot juice for people with eczema or psoriasis can improve the appearance of the skin.

The antioxidants and vitamin C have anti-inflammatory properties that can speed up the healing process. This helps the skin to heal faster from external wounds and trauma.

6. Boost the immune system

A weak immune system makes you susceptible to various infections, such as flu and colds. Although not a dangerous disease, flu and colds can paralyze your activities if your symptoms are severe enough. Usually, you need to rest for a day or two at home to get your immune system strong again to fight infection.

Carrots are not only known as vitamin A, but also vitamin C. If you are among those who are susceptible to flu or colds, you should eat more carrots. Vitamin C from carrots can support a stronger immune system.

7. Increase the metabolic system

If you are on a diet, drinking carrot juice can help you lose weight. Carrot juice tastes sweet, but is low in calories. This sweet taste can replace soda or other sweet drinks that you often drink.

Carrot juice is known to increase bile secretion. That means the metabolism will increase because the body has to convert food into energy. This can fill your empty stomach and give you energy even when you don't eat.

Although carrots have many benefits, but …

Really a lot, isn't it, the benefits of this carrot? If you don't want to miss the benefits, you can add carrots to your daily menu. However, remember to consume carrots also should not be excessive. The beta carotene antioxidant which is very abundant in carrots can actually change the skin color. This can temporarily make your skin tone yellow.

In addition, pay attention to the intake of vitamin A contained in it. Excess of this vitamin in the body can cause poisoning. Especially if you use drugs based on vitamin A, such as isotretinoin (Roaccutane) for acne or acitretin for psoriasis. If your intake of carrots is not watched, vitamin A overdose can occur.

You also need to be careful about consuming carrots. The reason is, these foods can also cause allergic reactions in some people with pollen. Not only itchy skin, carrot allergies can also cause other unpleasant symptoms, such as swelling of the throat, tongue, face, and digestive problems.

Healthy way to process carrots

Source: Joyful Healthy Eats

If you want to get the benefits of carrots, you have to process the tubers right. If you process carrots improperly, the nutritional content of the carrots can be damaged. It's very unfortunate isn't it, if you already eat carrots but you only get a few nutrients. So that this does not happen, follow the steps below.

1. Wash the carrots thoroughly

Like any other vegetable or fruit, carrots really need washing. The reason is, the part of this tuber that you eat is the root part. The carrot roots are in the soil, so there is more soil in them. If you do not clean carrots, the dirt and dirt will get into your stomach.

Wash the carrots under running water and scrub each surface until the dirt is completely removed. Apart from cleaning the sticky soil, washing carrots also removes residue from pesticides.

While cleaning, you should remove the stringy ends of the carrots and the green part of the head. The stringy parts usually soak into the soil and the parts that are still green taste bitter when eaten.

2. Correct way of cooking

Carrots can be eaten directly or made juice. If consumed in this way, carrots do not need to be boiled or heated. Actually, consuming this way does not damage the nutritional content of carrots, it's just that the body does not optimally absorb the nutrients.

Meanwhile, if heated, some nutrients can be damaged. For example, the content of vitamin C. Fortunately, antioxidants and beta carotene are able to withstand heat and are better absorbed when heated. So that you get the maximum nutrition of carrots, cook the carrots on low heat and not too long.

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