Carrots can be orange, yellow, purple, white or red, but regardless of color, it is good for health. The most common is orange carrots with a slightly sweet taste, which began to be cultivated in the Netherlands in the 16th century.
This delicious vegetable, along with parsnip, dill, parsley and caraway seeds belongs to the umbrella family.
Useful properties of carrots
Vitamin A
One medium carrot (about 75 grams) provides 210% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. This vitamin plays an important role in maintaining the health of the immune system, vision, reproductive ability, cellular functions and skin elasticity. In the plant kingdom, only sweet potatoes are richer in vitamin A than carrots.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants prevent damage to cells caused by oxidative processes in the body. Carrots contain various antioxidants, each of which has its own unique defense function. Beta-carotene is the most common; orange carrots are especially rich in it. Other antioxidants found in carrots are alpha-carotene, coumaric acid, lutein, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and anthocyanidins. This means that carrots provide the body with a large number of antioxidants.
Does carrot help you see in the dark?
Probably, in childhood, everyone heard that if there is a lot of carrots, then the ability to see in the dark like a cat will appear.It is believed that this myth arose during the Second World War. The British press published an article about John, a fighter pilot who could see in the dark because he ate carrots. This “news” became so popular that people began to eat more carrots, believing that they would be able to see in the dark with frequent blackouts at that time. It turns out that the story was invented to hide the fact that the UK has a new kind of radar that helped find the bombers.
Is carrots good for the eyes?
If the ability to see in the dark is a myth, it remains to be seen: are carrots really good for the eyes? Scientists at an institute in Los Angeles found that women who ate carrots twice a week were less likely to suffer from glaucoma than those who ate carrots less than once during the same period. Various studies have shown that poor vision due to a lack of vitamin A can improve if you increase your intake of this vitamin. In addition, it is known that vitamin A acts as a component of rhodopsin (a protein that absorbs light in the receptors of the retina) and supports the functioning of the cornea, conjunctiva, and membrane. This suggests that carrots are very beneficial for the eyes.
Cardiovascular system
The most commonly studied aspects of the health benefits of carrots are related to the cardiovascular system. Decades of research in the Netherlands have shown that people who eat carrots every day have lower risks of developing vascular and heart disease. It is believed that this is due to the protective role of antioxidants contained in carrots.
Organic carrots almost always have a bright taste, they are richer in nutrients and are not pollinated with harmful pesticides when grown. When you have the opportunity to buy such carrots - do not hesitate.
