Medicinal Benefits of Carrots

Carrots should be part of a normal healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.  As such, carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. Carrots are by far one of the richest source of carotenoids-just one cup provides 16,679 IUs of beta-carotene and 3,432 REs (retinol equivalents), or roughly 686.3% the RDA for vitamin A!!

According to nutritional research, the intake of foods such as carrots that are rich in carotenoids may be beneficial to blood sugar regulation. Research has suggested that physiological levels, as well as dietary intake, of carotenoids may be inversely associated with insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.

Carrots' antioxidant compounds can help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision. Vitamin A has been linked to improving the function of the retina of the eyes. During World War II, Royal Air Force pilots were urged to consume carrots to maintain good eyesight. Because beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant, eating carrots frequently may help prevent cataracts.

High carotenoid intake has been linked with a 20% decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer and an up to 50% decrease in the incidence of cancers of the bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophagus. Extensive human studies suggest that a diet including as little as one carrot per day could conceivably cut the rate of lung cancer in half. Additionally, carrots also contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol that may be responsible for the recognized epidemiological association between frequently eating carrots and a reduced risk of cancers.

High-carotenoid diets are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Carotenoids and Heart Disease Researchers at the USDA found that study participants who consumed two carrots a day were able to lower their cholesterol levels about 20 percent due to a soluble fiber called calcium pectate.