Carrots Nutritional Facts

Carrot is a root vegetable, either red, pink or orange in color. The crisp and edible taproot is a domesticated variant of daucus carota, the wild variety that is native to Europe and Asia. The plant is biennial and grows leaf rosettes during summer. The edible taproot is fleshy and stores sugars. The stem flowers to a height of about 1 meter and bears white flowers. The fruit is a schizocarp that can be eaten in a variety of ways.

The best part of this vegetable is that it can be well digested without cooking. Carrots can be diced, sliced and grated to be eaten raw. The vegetable can also be boiled, fried or stewed to add flavor and nutrition to soup recipes and stews. Grated, the vegetables adds the goodness of vitamin A to cake recipes and puddings, without children even knowing about its presence.

Carrots blend well with other salad vegetables like spring onions, cabbage and celery to add volume to traditional and diet bowls. It is part of nearly every broth and mash in baby and pet food. Carrot juice is a popular health drink. It can also be blended with the juice of other fruits and vegetables to add flavor, volume or nutritional content, depending on the vitamin deficiency being battled.

Carrots are rich sources of fiber, minerals and antioxidants. These potent components help to prevent the onset of poor vision. Essentially, they help restore vitamin A into the diet. This fibrous root also addresses ethnomedical issues such as digestive problems and tonsillitis. Their regular intake is known to counter-attack intestinal parasites and ease constipation. A number of new-age diets have carrots as vital components of the diet plan.

Nutritional facts with regards to carrots is that the vegetable is rich in vitamin A from beta carotene. The fiber content aids digestion and excretion, helping with associated ailments like hemorrhoids or piles. Juice of carrot is potent with the goodness of beta carotene, a whole 100%. It increases the fluid intake and water retention within the system during the hot summer months.

The pulp and juice are anti-carcinogenic and prevent cancer. The popular garden vegetable is also sought for its aromatic leaves. The purple-skinned variety called Beta Sweet or Maroon Carrot is being researched upon for its anti-cancer properties. This new-age experimental remedy is being promoted via a number of products like biscuits and spreads.

Beta carotene content makes the vegetable an anti-oxidant. This property credits the vegetable with the prevention of cell degeneration and slowing down of the natural aging. Being anti-oxidant makes carrot great for the skin, either ingested via juice or food or applied within herbal and natural creams.

Carrot juice works like tonic to improve overall health of the immune system, while triggering appetite. Research reveals that a daily dose of this natural wonder improves immunity by up to 70%. It is rich in minerals and blends well with spinach and/or beet root to increase the mineral content, as per the deficiency being corrected. Today, selective breeding of this wonder vegetable has reduced bitterness and increased its sweetness.

Dedicated research reveals that carrots are also rich in vitamin E and hence, the vegetable is a vital part of nutritional supplements. With the natural content of vitamin E, it works wonders on the skin and rejuvenates dead skin. All these core nutrition components within carrots have made them popular in the kitchen garden and important additives to snacks and meals for children.

The bright orange color that comes from beta carotene metabolizes into vitamin A on ingestion. The reaction takes place in the presence of bile salts in the intestines. However, an overdose of the vegetable can lead to hypercarotenemia. This condition is characterized by an orange tinge to the skin and liver damage.

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Carrots Rich in Vitamins

The carrot belongs to the Umbelliferae family and is a raw vegetable root. Several health benefits of carrots have resulted in them serving as a remedy for many health problems. Carrots are filling and do not contain fats, which is why they are recommended by dietitians for people under a weight loss program. Carrots contain vitamins, minerals and fiber. Long back in the ancient times, carrots were used for medicinal purposes to cure stomach ailments, for healing wounds, liver ailments, and also for ulcers.

Vitamin A in Carrots

Why are carrots orange in color? The substance that gives the carrot its bright orange color is beta-carotene. It is found in fruits and vegetables that are red, yellow, or orange in color and also in some of the green leafy vegetables. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and it nourishes, develops and maintains the skin, improves eyesight, enhances hair growth, plays an important role in growth and boosts the immune system function. It is very essential for healthy eyes, and a better night vision. Carrots are one of the richest sources of vitamin A. The deficiency of this vitamin can cause night blindness.

Other Vitamins Present in Carrots

Other vitamins that carrots contain are Vitamin K that helps prevent cancer, Alzheimer's, and improve the bone health. Carrots contain vitamin C in traces which supports the functioning of the immune system and also improves skin clarity. Vitamin E (alpha-Tocophero), which protects the cell membrane from oxidation and Vitamin B, vitamin B1 (Thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) are also found in carrots.Vitamin B helps increase metabolism, helps to maintain a healthy skin and tones the muscles. It also plays a part in enhancing the immune system. Carrots contain beta corotene which is an antioxidant that fights free radicals. Antioxidants fight free radicals that damage the skin and cause cancer. They provide protection against some other ailments like heart diseases and muscular degeneration. Some studies have shown that men who had high levels of beta carotene and vitamin C had lower risks of heart attacks.

The following table shows us the vitamins carrots have in 100 grams of carrot. Including 100 grams of carrot in the daily diet at least twice or thrice a week would be beneficial to get all the rich nutrients that carrots contain. Let's look at the vitamin content in 100 grams of carrots.

Vitamins (for 1 large carrot, 100 grams)	Value
Vitamin A	93%
Vitamin C	12%
Vitamin D	~
Vitamin E	~
Vitamin K	9.4 mcg
Thiamin	3%
Riboflavin	3%
Niacin	8%
Vitamin B6	8%
Folate	5%

Now you know that carrots nutritional value is very high and I hope that you are convinced with the information on vitamins in carrot. So, don't forget to include carrots in your daily diet.

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Getting Healthy Juices For Kids To Drink

Encourage your kids to drink plenty of water. Use a water bottle or glass which appeals to them. You can also use a water bottle where they can measure and see the amount of water they’ve had for the day.

Getting your kids to drink healthy green juices and vegetable juices could be an upheaval of a task. Mix them with juices like apple or carrot and it wont be too difficult to get them to drink it. Gradually move from pure carrot or apple juice to apple-carrot-parsley juice. Try using sweet organic apples and carrots and serve the juice in an attractive tumbler.

Make juicing a family activity. Involve the kids in helping with preparing the ingredients, and deciding on which juices to make and searching for recipes. This family time will not only inculcate good and healthy eating habits but the kids will learn about the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables.

Kids love to have what they have prepared and you will find that they readily have all the good stuff on their own. Other ways to encourage your kids to consume more fruits are to make ice lollies from fresh fruit juice.

Make fruit smoothies and shakes by liquidizing fruit such as strawberries, mango or bananas with fruit juice and/or milk.

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Carrot Juice Health Benefits

It is a misconception that carrot juice is bitter and awful to taste. In fact it tastes good and has many health benefits. Well, do you know what benefits stir in carrot juice? When carrot is juiced and a glass of it is consumed every day, it improves our health in various ways. So, what are the health benefits of carrot juice anyway? Read on to find out.

Carrot Juice Health Benefits

Eating carrots as well as drinking one glass of carrot juice is extremely beneficial, as carrot juice contains many vitamins and minerals. Carrot juice is like a tonic to our body. Studies have shown that people who included one glass of carrot juice everyday in their diet showed a lot of improvement in their health. Carrot juice is good for the liver, eyesight, teeth, bones, nails, hair, prenatal health, and there are carrot juice benefits for skin too. Carrots contain beta carotene, which helps prevent cancer and is converted into vitamin A in the liver.

Vitamin A, being an essential nutrient, relieves eye weakness, eye strain, and improves the immune system. Vitamin A stored in the liver has great cleansing effects in the body. It also reduces the fat and the bile accumulated in there, thus cleansing it thoroughly and making sure that it works properly. Drinking carrot juice regularly makes sure that your liver remains healthy. It also provides relief from constipation.

Being an excellent source of vitamin B, C and calcium pectate, carrot juice has also been found to have properties of lowering cholesterol. Carrot juice is rich in antioxidants and scavenges the free radicals giving us a better, healthy and nourished skin. Antioxidants also help in slowing the process of aging and control diseases. Carrot is also rich in dietary fiber and it promotes colon health.

Other benefits of carrot juice also include reducing the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. Carrot juice also benefits diabetic patients as it has a plant hormone called tocokinin, that is similar to insulin. Acne is caused by toxicity in our body. Having the best detoxifying and cleansing properties, carrot juice is effective for acne too. Carrots do contain a medium amount of sugar. Carrot juice can help increase the menstrual flow in women and improve their fertility. Being a rich source of alkaline elements, it also purifies and revitalizes the blood. It also helps to nourish the system and maintains the acid-alkaline balance in our body. The juice of carrot eases alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Wounds and injuries are also healed faster on consumption of carrot juice. Carrot juice helps fight anemia. Some dietitians recommend drinking carrot juice for weight loss.

Blending and Mixing

For those who make a face when carrot juice is served, here are some blends that you can have your carrot juice with. When carrot juice is blended with other raw vegetable or fruit juices, it boosts our immune system even better. Blending carrot juice with cabbage juice, produces an alkaline effect and protects from the acid forming food effects. Also, mixing carrot and spinach juice, provides nutrients to the hair roots which stops hair loss and helps in restoring natural hair color.

I'm sure that after reading these benefits of carrot juice, you might feel tempted to have a glass of it. Carrot juice is a really healthy way to keep up you and your health. I guess that is why Bugs bunny is so healthy!

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Health Benefits of Carrot

The carrot is a root vegetable which has an Indo-European origin. The tap-root of this vegetable is the edible part and it is considered to be nutritious and good for health. It is a rich source of many different nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, iron, etc. The chemical known as beta-carotene makes carrot an important food source in fighting several health problems. The nutrients present in raw carrots are destroyed once they are cooked. Thus, raw carrots health benefits are much higher than cooked ones.

Health Benefits of Carrots

The various health benefits and nutritional facts of carrots are mentioned in the following paragraphs. Prevention of cancers and heart attacks are among the important health benefits of carrots. There are many other benefits of carrot intake discussed in detail in the following article.

Prevention of Cancer

The chemical called beta-carotene is useful in the prevention of many types of cancers including lung cancer. As per studies conducted, the intake of carrot reduces colon cancer risk by 24%. Women who consume carrots are less prone to the development of breast cancer as well.

Protection from Heart Diseases

The importance of carrot intake in preventing heart problems has been emphasized by doctors and research teams. As per the research conducted at Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Edinburgh, cholesterol levels reduce by 11% in a matter of three weeks if 7 oz. of carrots are included in the daily diet. Studies conducted at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research, Italy indicate that the risk of heart attacks is reduced by 1/3 in those who consume carrots regularly.

Prevention of Diabetes

Carrots help in reducing blood sugar levels by inversely affecting insulin resistance. The carotenoids present in carrot juice are useful for the regulation of sugar levels.

Prevention of Strokes

The chances of a person suffering from strokes are reduced by 68% if carrots are included in the daliy diet. As per studies conducted, those with high levels of beta carotenoids in the body have a greater chance of surviving strokes.

Reduces Macular Degeneration

The beta-carotene present in carrots reduce the risk of macular degeneration by 40%. The disease affects the macula and is mostly found in elder/aging people.

Purple Carrot Health Benefits

Purple carrots have all the phytochemicals present in the orange one, plus antioxidants and anthocyanins. Apart from being antioxidant in nature, the phytochemicals present in these carrots are anti-inflammatory as well as anti-bacterial.

Other Carrots Health Benefits

The appearance/look of hair, skin and nails improves a lot with the intake of carrots. It also helps lower high blood pressure as well as the level of cholesterol. The quality of breast milk is enhanced/improved by the regular intake of carrots. Infections are kept at bay if carrots are consumed on a regular basis. Carrots are also considered to be good for endocrine and adrenal glands. Improvement in eyesight, increase in menstrual flow, regulation of blood sugars and promotion of colon health are some of the other carrots health benefits. The intake of carrots also helps in overcoming problems such as night blindness, sexual dysfunction, lower sexual drive, long term cough, etc. Moreover, it also helps in strengthening the kidney.

The information in the article presented above provides us with the knowledge about the different health benefits of carrots. Raw carrots health benefits are much higher than cooked carrots. One should, however, make it a point to include carrots, either raw or cooked, in their diet on a regular basis.

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