The benefits and harms of carrots for the human body

Also, this product has found application in folk medicine, because carrots have an abundance of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. But what really are the benefits and harms of carrots? Many people know only about its positive qualities and may be surprised that in the case of certain diseases, this vegetable can worsen the state of health. Let’s talk about the effects of carrots on the human body.

History of carrots

The orange carrots we’re used to weren’t always like this. Afghanistan is considered her homeland. Previously, it was purple and did not have such a pronounced taste.

The existence of carrots was known more than 4000 years ago. Then it was grown not for the root crop. At that time, only juicy tops and seeds were used.

In the 17th century, as a result of selection, the carrot that is familiar to us appeared.

Carrots were considered a vegetable of health and prosperity. Women even decorated their hats with her tops, and in Portugal they came up with the idea of ​​​​making jam from the root crop.

There are more than 60 varieties of carrots in different colors – orange, red, black, yellow, white and purple.

Benefits of carrots

We all know that carrots are one of the best sources of beta-carotene (vitamin A). Only two root vegetables contain its daily dose. Vitamin A improves the condition and functioning of almost the entire body, has a huge number of beneficial properties.

• Carrots are essential for our eyes… The eyes need vitamin A, which is why we hear so much talk about carrots being good for vision and maintaining eye health. Lack of beta-carotene leads to a lot of eye diseases, among which the most common can be noted: myopia or “night blindness”, manifested by poor vision in poor lighting or darkness. To prevent and get rid of a number of such eye problems, it is recommended to eat about 100 grams of carrots daily, which normalizes the functioning of the retina;
• Improves the condition of the cardiovascular system… Eating raw carrots, you can normalize blood cholesterol levels, and this is an excellent prevention of heart and vascular diseases. In the course of numerous studies, it has been proven that regular intake of the orange root vegetable improves the supply of blood to the brain, and therefore reduces the risk of a stroke by as much as 70 percent. The beneficial effect of carrots on blood vessels is proved by its potassium content, and in the treatment of anemia, the vegetable is effective thanks to iron. Carrots are useful for hypertensive patients with high blood pressure, varicose veins, the recovery period after a stroke, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and many other problems with blood vessels and heart;
• Provides powerful antioxidant effects… Cooked carrots contain 34 percent more antioxidants than raw vegetables. Due to this property, doctors advise using boiled carrots for the prevention of cancer, since its antioxidants and vitamin A bind free radicals and prevent them from provoking the development of malignant tumors. Scientists claim that regular consumption of carrots reduces the possibility of cancer by 40 percent, and in those who have already undergone such a disease, there is a decrease in the growth of cancer cells;
• Normalizes digestion processes… With impaired metabolism of carbohydrates, when they enter the body and settle on the sides, cellulite occurs. Carrots help to avoid this problem, because due to its frequent use in the body, carbohydrate metabolism is normalized, the processes of food digestion are stabilized, the work of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract and the contraction of the intestinal walls are enhanced. Due to the fact that the orange fruit contains a huge amount of fiber, this vegetable is recommended for obese people. You can also note the benefits of carrots for hemorrhoids, gastritis with low acidity, pancreatic diseases and constipation. It removes heavy metal salts, slags and toxins from the body. In addition, carrots improve appetite. It is very important to maintain the normal functioning of the intestines, as it greatly affects the quality of human life;
• Cleanses the liver and kidneys, renews their cells… Due to the diuretic and choleretic effects of carrots, it can be used to remove sand and stones from the kidneys and bladder. This vegetable is also good for preventing the occurrence of gallstone disease;
• Slows down the aging process of the skin, improves its condition… Adding carrots to your diet will help not only improve the condition of the heart and blood vessels, but also the skin. With the help of this vegetable, you can prolong your youth. It is not for nothing that face masks and other cosmetics are often developed on the basis of carrots. It helps prevent the formation of wrinkles, nourishes the skin and makes it more beautiful and elastic. If you are injured, you have purulent wounds, burns or sores on the surface of the skin, make a gruel from the carrots that relieves pain. Carrot juice, in turn, can be used to wash wounds;
• Strengthens the nervous system… In case of depression and neurosis, do not rush to take chemical preparations purchased at the pharmacy. Better to drink freshly squeezed carrot juice, which has a calming effect. With the help of this fruit, you can improve your performance, get rid of excessive fatigue, saturate the body with energy;
• Strengthens the immune system… Carrots are especially recommended for use during colds and infectious diseases, as they contain vitamin C, enhances the body’s defenses against viruses;
• Good for men’s and women’s health… Eating an orange vegetable will help solve problems with potency in men, so its components can often be found in the corresponding preparations. Carrot juice restores strength after intense physical activity. For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, it is effective to take carrot juice in order to improve the quality of breast milk. Also, carrots guarantee a balanced production of female sex hormones, preserve youth, beauty and figure;
• Protects the body of children from inflammation and viruses… Vitamin A contributes to the active growth of a young body. Children who eat carrots often have stronger bones and teeth. It is worth noting that some eye problems, for example, myopia, develop from childhood, therefore, thanks to this vegetable, such diseases can be prevented;
• Helps in the treatment of respiratory diseases… The content of phytoncides makes it effective to take carrots for chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, severe cough, pneumonia and hoarseness. The fruits of this vegetable increase phlegm and expectoration with a dry cough;
• Helps with oral inflammation and stomatitis… In case of such problems, it is necessary to drink diluted carrot juice, which has an antibacterial effect;
• Has anthelmintic properties… That is why carrots are considered an excellent remedy for worms;
• Strengthens hair, bones and nails thanks to calcium;
• Reduces the toxic effects of drugs that include antibiotics;
• The balanced composition of vitamins makes carrots effective for the prevention and treatment of vitamin deficiencies and hypovitaminosis.

Content of useful substances

The vegetable contains carotene, which has a positive effect on the metabolism in the body. With its lack, disorders can appear – dandruff, dry skin, brittle nails and hair.

Improves eyesight

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. The lutein found in the vegetable plays an important role in reducing macular degeneration and improving eye health. To this end, you can include carrots in your usual diet. A vegetable will not be superfluous in the diet of any healthy person. But at the same time, its importance in the treatment of eye diseases is exaggerated.

The myth that the root vegetable improves eyesight appeared during the Second World War. False information about the phenomenal benefits of carrots was artificially launched by the British.

They invented infrared lenses that let you see in the dark. In order to hide this fact, they started a rumor that their pilots eat carrots. It is because of this vegetable that they have excellent eyesight and they see in the dark.

Helps to recover from diseases

Carrot juice is recommended as a tonic and a source of vitamins. It helps to speed up recovery after a viral illness. This is facilitated by the presence of vitamin C in the root crop.

Improves the work of the digestive tract

The fruit has a positive effect on digestion. Carrots, like other vegetables, contain fiber necessary for the normal functioning of the digestive tract. Root vegetable diets can be recommended by doctors as an adjunct therapy.

Good effect on blood vessels

Regular consumption of carrots has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. The vegetable helps lower cholesterol levels and improves the elasticity of blood vessels.

Carrots contain potassium. It is a vasodilator and helps lower blood pressure.

Helps to lose weight

Eating carrots leads to rapid satiety. The feeling of hunger after eating a vegetable does not occur for the next few hours. As a result, a person eats less food. The calorie content of the daily diet is reduced.

Increases bone strength

The root contains vitamin K2. It is responsible for bone metabolism and prevents calcium leaching. As a result, the risk of osteoporosis is reduced. This is especially important for the elderly and women after menopause.

Reduces stress levels

One of the beneficial properties of carrots is the ability to calm the nervous system, preventing its exhaustion. Regular consumption of root vegetables reduces nervous tension and increases resistance to stress.

Carrot juice

There are about as many vitamins in one glass of carrot juice as in five glasses of chopped carrots.

Vegetable juices are high in nutrients but lack fiber. Drinks are also high in sugar. For example, one glass of carrot juice contains 2 g of fiber and 9 g of sugar. The same volume of chopped raw carrots contains 3.5 g of fiber and 6 g of sugar.

Carrot juice.

Carrot juice has many benefits as it is high in nutrient concentration.

Most people can include it in small amounts in their diet. However, keep in mind that juice is not a substitute for eating fresh vegetables.

Harms of carrots

It would be naive to believe that carrots are completely harmless. There are no food products in the world that would not harm the human body in one way or another. So what is the harm of carrots?

• Increases stomach acidity… For this reason, patients with gastritis with high acidity should strictly limit the consumption of this vegetable. Also, with taking carrots, you should be careful for people suffering from inflammation of the small intestine, exacerbation of stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• Overeating causes side effects… Excessive intake of carrots is dangerous by the manifestation of drowsiness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and headache;
• Provokes yellowing of the skin… The body is not able to process the excess amount of carotene into vitamin A, especially the child’s body. Because of this, when overeating, yellowing of the skin can be observed, also known as “carotene jaundice”;
• Not recommended for people with impaired kidney function… There is a lot of potassium in carrots, the excess of which will be deposited in the body if the kidneys are malfunctioning;
• Excessive consumption of carrots will put a lot of strain on the weak intestines due to the fiber.

To get the maximum benefit from carrots, its daily dosage should not exceed 300 grams – this is about 3-4 medium vegetable roots. An unwise reception will lead to the fact that you will not only heal your body, but also receive significant harm from carrots.

Modern cooking offers a lot of different dishes with the addition of vegetables, which will be not only tasty, but also healthy. Carrots are a delicious and nutritious product that can be used as a standalone medicine or as a supplement to other medicines.

Nutritional value and chemical composition of Carrots

Video about the benefits and harms of carrots