11 Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are best known for their ability to improve and protect eyesight. However, the health benefits of carrots extend to other areas of the body, leading many health experts to dub the orange vegetable a superfood. The US Department of Agriculture recommends adults eat at least four servings of vegetables per day, and it’s easy to make carrots a part of your daily diet as they can be eaten both raw and cooked.
1. Cleans Teeth and Gums
There are several foods that act as nature’s toothbrush and the carrot is one of them. One of the health benefits is that the vegetable acts as a natural abrasive that scrubs away plaque and leftover food particles. Since stains can attach themselves to plaque, chewing on carrots at the end of a meal can reduce discoloration and clean the mouth during times when you’re not able to brush your teeth directly after eating. Eating carrots also stimulates the production of saliva, a substance that helps to prevent plaque from forming.
2. A Healthy Dose of Vitamin A: Improving Eyesight
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A—one serving provides 210 percent of the recommended daily amount. This essential vitamin is used by the eyes to maintain good vision. The beta-carotene in the vegetable is converted to vitamin A in the liver and then goes on to combine with a protein called opsin to form rhodopsin. This substance is needed for night and color vision. Regular consumption of carrots may also help to protect the eyes from age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
For more nutritious superfoods checkout our 50 Best Superfoods of 2015
3. Glowing Skin
The health benefits of eating carrots extend to the skin. If your skin looks dull or is showing signs of aging, you can use carrots to get it glowing again. The vitamin A and antioxidants found in carrots help protect skin from sun damage and the harmful effects of the free radicals that are sometimes released during normal metabolic processes. Carrots contain a substance called retinoic acid, which appears to aid the body in maintaining healthy skin. In addition to eating the vegetable, you can reap the health benefits of carrot juice or pulp by applying the concoction directly to the face, using it to treat skin issues such as acne and dryness. Providing your skin with Vitamin A is part of the battle, our skin cells need zinc and other nutrients you can find in many foods like brazil nuts.
1. Cleans Teeth and Gums
There are several foods that act as nature’s toothbrush and the carrot is one of them. One of the health benefits is that the vegetable acts as a natural abrasive that scrubs away plaque and leftover food particles. Since stains can attach themselves to plaque, chewing on carrots at the end of a meal can reduce discoloration and clean the mouth during times when you’re not able to brush your teeth directly after eating. Eating carrots also stimulates the production of saliva, a substance that helps to prevent plaque from forming.
2. A Healthy Dose of Vitamin A: Improving Eyesight
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A—one serving provides 210 percent of the recommended daily amount. This essential vitamin is used by the eyes to maintain good vision. The beta-carotene in the vegetable is converted to vitamin A in the liver and then goes on to combine with a protein called opsin to form rhodopsin. This substance is needed for night and color vision. Regular consumption of carrots may also help to protect the eyes from age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
For more nutritious superfoods checkout our 50 Best Superfoods of 2015
3. Glowing Skin
The health benefits of eating carrots extend to the skin. If your skin looks dull or is showing signs of aging, you can use carrots to get it glowing again. The vitamin A and antioxidants found in carrots help protect skin from sun damage and the harmful effects of the free radicals that are sometimes released during normal metabolic processes. Carrots contain a substance called retinoic acid, which appears to aid the body in maintaining healthy skin. In addition to eating the vegetable, you can reap the health benefits of carrot juice or pulp by applying the concoction directly to the face, using it to treat skin issues such as acne and dryness. Providing your skin with Vitamin A is part of the battle, our skin cells need zinc and other nutrients you can find in many foods like brazil nuts.