This vital piece of information tells you everything you need to know about carrots, a root vegetable often claimed to be the perfect health food. Carrots are orange in colour especially in Nigeria, West Africa, as it varies widely in colour depending on the cultivar types. In some part of the world, carrots come in a variety of colours including: orange, purple, white, yellow and red. It’s naturally sugary, crunchy and delicious and notably rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. Interestingly, the root vegetable carry out all the functions of vitamin-A such as maintaining good eye sight, reproduction (sperm production), maintenance of a beautiful skin, cancer prevention and anti-aging, healthy growth and development. Fresh roots are also good in vitamin C; which is water soluble anti-oxidant and helps the body maintain healthy connective tissue, teeth and gum.
Carrots are the second most popular type of vegetable after potatoes and botanically they are the taproots belonging in the Apiaceae or umbelliferous family in the genus; Daucus and Daucus carota is its scientific name. Fresh carrots are available in the markets this season. While buying carrots please look out for young, tender, bright-coloured roots with firm consistency. Try as much as possible to avoid soft, flabby roots and very large-sized roots as they can be an indication of over maturity, ensuing poor eating quality. It’s important to note that undue exposure of carrot to sunlight would result in greenish discoloration near its top end because of chlorophyll photo-pigment deposition. Though this may not have any negative health effect but may diminish its sweet taste. Always wash them thoroughly in cold water and you can use knife to scrape the body in order to remove dirt.
The Health Benefits of Carrots
The health benefits of carrots cannot be over emphasized. It is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Carrots are a particularly good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. They are also a good source of several B vitamins, as well as vitamin K and potassium. Eating carrots is linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as improved eye health. Additionally, this vegetable may be a valuable component of an effective weight loss diet.
Eye health
Carrots are very good for the eyes. Adults and children need more of it to improve vision especially the night vision. Individuals with low vitamin A levels are more likely to experience night blindness, a condition that may diminish by eating carrots or other foods rich in vitamin A
Healthy Skin
Carrots are a good promoter of healthier skin (both inside and outside) such that Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage especially this period that the sun is hot. As a beauty specialist I use carrots for facial mask which is cheap and very convenient. Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey and your face mask is ready. The result is amazing. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, blemishes and uneven skin tone while deficiencies of vitamin A causes dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A also assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in this unique vegetable help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
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