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Carrots are not only tasty, but also a very healthy vegetable, which, due to its beneficial health properties, should often appear in our menu. Carrots contain a lot of valuable nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for the proper functioning of our body. What is worth knowing about the Omarchwi? How does eating carrot help our body?
- Carrots are a rich source of, among others beta-carotene
- It is recommended for people with vitamin A deficiency, as well as for those who suffer from malnutrition or anemia
- Carrots, however, should not be eaten too much. May be harmful
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
The history and origin of carrots
The wild plants that are the ancestors of carrots come from Central Asia, namely Persia (today – Iran and Afghanistan). Interestingly, for a long time wild carrots were harvested not for the root, but for its aromatic seeds and leaves, which were used primarily in medicine. Carrot seeds from 4000 to 5000 years ago were found in archaeological sites in Switzerland and the southern part of Germany. Already then, this plant had to be present in Europe.
Even before its domestication, the carrot was quite well known in ancient Rome – it is mentioned in several documents from that period. Carrot description it also appears in the XNUMXth-century encyclopedia of herbs and medicines, Juliana Annicia Codex. Its author, Dioscorides, describes three different species of carrot “the root of which can be cooked and eaten”.
When and where domesticated carrots? Historians claim that it took place in the XNUMXth century in what is now Afghanistan, from where the carrot quickly reached Europe and the Far East. From chronicle descriptions we know that in the Middle Ages the most popular types of carrots were white, purple and yellow.
Orange carrot, the most popular today, appeared relatively late. According to many historical sources, we owe it to the Dutch, who were to create it in the XNUMXth century to honor the color of the then Dutch flag and King William of Orange.
Ancient medics were already aware of the richness and abundance of valuable nutrients contained in carrots. What are the beneficial substances in carrots?
Carrots are primarily a source of carotenoids – antioxidants, which are also the dyes that give the carrot its characteristic orange color. There are several types of carotenoids in carrots: such as lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, ie provitamin A. The latter is especially valuable. In the human body, provitamin A is transformed into vitamin A, which regulates many key processes for the proper functioning of the body. for good eyesight.
Carrots are also rich in other antioxidants, including flavonoids (kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin and others) and phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic hydroxycinnamic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid or caffeic acid. To a large extent, it is they who make it carrot has a strong anti-radical effect.
In addition to antioxidants carrots also contain a lot of vitamins:
- Vitamin C – 5,9 mg
- Thiamine — 0,066 mg
- Ryboflawina — 0,058 mg
- Niacin — 0,983 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 0,138 mg
- Folic acid — 19 μg
- Vitamin E – 0,66 mg
- Vitamin K — 13.2 mg
and minerals:
- Calcium — 33 mg
- Iron – 0,30 mg
- Magnesium — 12 mg
- Fosfor – 35mg
- Potassium – 320 mg
- Sodium – 69 mg
- Zinc — 0,24 mg
It is worth knowing that carrots are also a source of a rare trace element – molybdenum. It is important in the regulation of metabolic changes in the body.
- EKO Carrot Seed Oil is available on Medonet Market in bottles of 250 ml.
… due to the abundance of valuable vitamins and minerals, carrots are given to patients suffering from avitaminosis A, i.e. vitamin A deficiency. Usually, this condition manifests itself with dry skin on the arms, thighs, elbows and knees, as well as dry eyeball and amblyopia after dark . Carrots are also recommended in states of malnutrition and anemia, especially in children and adolescents.
We recommend Green Laboratorium bronzing body lotion with tomato and carrot. The cosmetic is available on Medonet Market at an attractive price.
Carrots – energy value
People on a slimming diet can confidently reach for carrots. Due to its low caloric content (27 kcal in 100 g of raw carrots) and high fiber content (3,6 g / 100 g) carrot definitely promotes weight loss.
100 g of raw carrots contain:
- 27 kcal;
- carbohydrates – 8,7 g;
- protein – 1,0 g;
- fats – 0,2 g;
- dietary fiber – 3,6 g.
Raw carrots have a low glycemic index (IG 30). However, subjected to heat treatment, it changes its properties: boiled carrots can have this value even three times higher. For this reason, people struggling with type 2 diabetes should only eat carrots in their raw form.
Eating carrots regularly can have many health benefits. Carrots, due to the content of many valuable substances, have a positive effect on many aspects of the functioning of our body. How can they help?
Carrots – benefits for the eyes and skin
The high content of provitamin A, or beta-carotene, makes eating carrots improves our eyesight. Therefore, it should be used especially often by people who spend many hours in front of the computer on a daily basis. Carrots rich in beta-carotene also strengthen the immune system.
Beta-carotene also has a positive effect on the condition of the skin: in adolescence, it supports the treatment of acne, and in later years delays the formation of wrinkles. The most famous property of beta-carotene, however, seems to be the fact that it accelerates and preserves the tan. To emphasize the tan, 2 cups of carrot juice per day is usually recommended.
Carrot seeds are also used to produce oil that has a positive effect on the skin. Try Cold Pressed Carrot Seed Oil to revitalize skin – especially dry skin.
Remember to eat carrots in moderation. It is very healthy, but in excess can cause health problems. Vitamin A in too high doses is toxic and can lead to liver enlargement, excessive excitability or visual impairment. An overdose of beta-carotene may also result in skin problems, manifested mainly by an orange shade of the skin (so-called carotenoderma or carotenosis).
- Read more about vitamin A and its effects on the body.
Future mothers are usually warned against the possibility of vitamin A overdose, which, in excess, may harm the baby. However, this recommendation applies primarily to dietary supplements containing vitamin A and animal products such as liver. However, this does not mean that it should be completely eliminated from the diet – it is needed in certain amounts for the proper development of the fetus.
Rich in beta-carotene (i.e. provitamin A) carrot pregnant It certainly won’t hurt, as long as it’s consumed in reasonable amounts. Carrot juice, steamed carrots as an addition to dinner or raw carrots as a snack, they are therefore safe and healthy – no need to worry. We recommend, for example, apple juice with beetroot and 100% carrot, which will provide the body with a lot of valuable vitamins and minerals.
- Find out more about a healthy pregnancy diet.
Carrots – anti-cancer properties
Beta-carotene is also a powerful antioxidant with proven effectiveness in the prevention of cancer. Thanks to the consumption of carrots, it is possible to prevent, above all, cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus and bladder. Provitamin A contained in carrots also reduces the risk of occurrence prostate cancer. In the prevention of this disease, the vitamin A metabolite turns out to be important: retinoic acid with confirmed anti-cancer activity.
There is also falkarinol in carrots – a substance which, according to scientists from the University of Newcastle, also has a beneficial effect in the prevention of cancer. This compound is also found in other vegetables (including celery and parsley), but it is carrots that contain the most of it.
Carrots in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Eating carrots may also protect against cardiovascular disease. Carrot pectin reduces levels cholesterol in the blood, which makes them anti-atherosclerotic. Therefore, phytotherapy specialists recommend eating carrots to patients with the first symptoms atherosclerosis.
Carrot extract is also used in light, chronic cases of coronary artery disease. The flavonoids in carrots have an antispasmodic effect on the coronary vessels of the heart and increase blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Find out what dietary changes can help lower cholesterol.
Carrots in digestive disorders and intestinal peristalsis
Fresh carrot root, as well as the juice squeezed from it, contain sulfur compounds collectively called bifidus. These compounds stimulate the growth of bacteria beneficial for the intestinal microflora – Bifidobacterium bifidus (or Lactobacillus bifidus) – thus supporting the work of the intestines.
For this reason drinking fresh carrot juice proves to be very beneficial in digestive disorders, especially in the case of children. Carrot juice can be given to babies who are already fed with mother’s milk in 2-3 portions a day. Young children should drink 40-60 g of carrot juice daily, also in 2-3 portions.
Drinking carrot juice is also recommended for the elderly who suffer from intestinal peristalsis disorders.
If you want to enjoy good health, reach for Bioherba’s Carrot Sourdough with Beetroot available on Medonet Market in bottles of three different sizes or in a set of shots for 7 days.
Carrots are a very versatile vegetable when it comes to cooking: you can cook it, fry, stew, bake it … The healthiest and the richest in beneficial ingredients, however, is undoubtedly raw carrots, including freshly squeezed carrot juice.
Therefore, it is worth reaching for it in this form as often as possible, preparing carrot salads (e.g. with horseradish or celery), serving carrots cut into sticks with hummus or light dips, or adding them to vegetable and fruit cocktails.
Carrots boiled in water or steamed can also be an excellent and easily digestible source of nutrients. However, if you cut the carrot into slices before cooking, it will lose as much as 25 percent of its valuable properties. That is why it is recommended to cook the carrots whole – then the flavor and valuable nutrients will be locked inside the vegetable.
It is very important that the carrots used for juicing and preparing meals come from proven crops. The best is the one from small, ecological farms where no mineral fertilizers were used – especially nitrogen fertilizers. Carrots grown on artificial fertilizers lose many of their valuable natural properties and in many cases can cause dangerous poisoning.
For some time now, the so-called baby carrots, or mini carrots – clean, even, usually packed in plastic bags. While they are supposed to give the impression of cute, young vegetables, in fact they are often not at all. The mini carrot you buy (usually at a higher price than regular carrots) is often a discarded previously broken piece of a larger vegetable, leveled, smoothed, and washed with detergents. So it’s better to avoid the popular baby carrots.
Interesting facts about carrots
- Although we are used mainly to orange carrots, carrots come in many colors. Various substances are responsible for their color, which makes them different in terms of nutritional value. Purple and black carrots contain anthocyanins, which are both dyes and powerful antioxidants. Red carrots are rich in lycopene – the same antioxidant that makes tomatoes red. The yellow variety is a source of beta-carotene, although not in such a large amount as the orange variety.
- The British John Stolarczyk has been leading … online carrot museum. The World Carrot Museum is an extremely comprehensive database of knowledge about the history, origin and specific properties of this vegetable. The portal features numerous articles and virtual exhibitions on the archives.
- One of the favorite delicacies of the Portuguese is carrot jam. In order for its production to be in line with the European Union directives, according to which jam can be made only from fruit, in 2001 local officials managed to approve a document that … recognizes carrots as a fruit.
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