Very soon, vegetable stores and supermarkets are going to be filled with carrots, and we are here to give you 7 reasons why you must load your grocery bag with these delicious tubers next time you go veggie-shopping
- Posted by Aditi Ahuja
- Updated: December 13, 2022 09:54 IST
Winters are here, and it’s time for this season’s favourite fruits and vegetables to take over our pantry. One such vegetable we have our hearts set on is the juicy, crunchy, Desi carrots “Carrots are good source of beta carotene which is a natural pigment that is used by the body to make Vitamin A and it has good amount of fibre”, said Bangalore based nutritionist Dr. Sheela Manglani speaking about the high nutritive profile of carrots. “Raw carrots daily address the problem of constipation. Carrots also help maintain healthy cholesterol and prevent heart diseases. Being rich in potassium they help bring down cholesterol and water retention,” says, Health Practitioner and Macrobiotic Nutritionist Shilpa Arora. Juice them, boil them or add them to your sabzis and chaats, but don’t make the blunder of missing out on this storehouse of nutrients this winter!
Here are 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Carrots
1. Boosts eye health
Are you or your child struggling with poor eyesight? Carrots to the rescue! Carrots have been regarded as the fool-proof traditional remedy to improve eyesight. According to the book Healing foods carrots are rich in lutein and lycopene which help maintain good eyesight and night vision. The high amount of vitamin A also helps boost a healthy eyesight
2. Aids Weight Loss
If you are on a weight loss diet, your diet must include foods that are high on fibre, and carrots with both soluble and insoluble fibres perfectly fit the bill. Fibre takes the longest to digest and thus promotes a feeling of fullness and prevents you from bingeing on other fattening foods.
3. Gut health
The high content of fibre in carrots helps in aiding digestion and results in better gut health. Carrots contain both soluble and insoluble fibre which would ensure a beneficial gut microflora as well as firmer stools, thus preventing conditions like constipation.
4. Immunity
The high Vitamin A content ensures a healthy immune system. Carrots also contain some amount of Vitamin C- known for their disease-prevention properties. The antioxidants present not only ensure free radical control but help in boosting your body’s immunity as well.
5. Blood sugar control
Carrots, though falling under the category of medium to high Glycemic Index (GI) foods, have surprisingly low glycemic load, i.e., the amount of carbohydrates in per gram of food. Hence, making them excellent food choice for diabetics and those watching their carbohydrate intakes.
6. Anti-oxidant properties
Carrots are rich in two main antioxidants- Carotenoids and Anthocyanins. Not only do these antioxidant properties of carrot protect against serious health conditions such as cancer but they are also good for our heart as well.
7. Cholesterol-lowering properties
The soluble fibre in carrots apart from providing better gut health also helps in reducing cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol in the blood. As high cholesterol levels and heart diseases go hand in hand, regular consumption of carrots is recommended for people with cardiovascular problems.
