Benefits of Carrot:
1. Cardiovascular diseases. Two animal
studies have shown that carrot consumption affects certain factors that promote cardiovascular health. Thus, consuming carrots would improve antioxidant capacity and vitamin E levels in the blood, in addition to lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver and in the body. 2. Cancer. The consumption of carrots has protective effects against lung cancer. A study of more than 120,000 women found that those who consumed 2-4 servings of carrots per week were 40% less likely to develop lung cancer compared to those who did not. With a consumption of 5 or more servings, the risk reduction was 60%. In addition, an observational study found that people who ate 2 or more servings of carrots or spinach a week were 44% less likely to have breast cancer than those who did not eat breast cancer.
3. Cataracts. Two observational studies have found a decrease in the prevalence of cataracts in men and women with more alpha and beta-carotene in the blood. The same results were observed in those who consume the most lutein and zeaxanthin. All these compounds are present in the carrot.
What does the
carrot contain?
Carotenes
The main carotenes found in carrots (raw, cooked or in juice) are beta-carotene,
lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenes are compounds with, among
other things, antioxidant properties, that is, they are able to neutralize free radicals in the
body. The consumption of carotene-rich foods is associated with a lower risk
of suffering from several diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and
some age-related diseases, such as cataracts. Several carotenes are also
precursors of vitamin A, that is to say, that the body turns them into vitamin
A according to its needs.
Carotenes have a protective
effect against cancer since foods containing them will reduce oxidative damage
to DNA. When DNA is
damaged, there may be a greater risk of cancer. It has also been shown that
people with cystic fibrosis have blood carotene levels that are lower than
normal limits. A few studies have shown that taking beta-carotene supplements
by patients with cystic fibrosis improves their plasma antioxidant capacity. To
date, however, no study has evaluated the effects of carrot consumption
on carotene levels in affected individuals.
Fibers
Some authors have argued that the simultaneous supply of fiber and carotenes, both present in the carrot, would maximize the protective effect of this vegetable. Indeed, it has been shown that certain types of fiber, especially soluble fiber, can reduce cholesterol and prevent the process of atherosclerosis in animals as well as in humans. During the study, carrot juice (which contains little fiber) had less effect on blood lipids compared to carrot consumption. The synergistic effect between the two compounds could explain, in part, this phenomenon.
Vitamins and
minerals
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