10 Wow Health Benefits of Carrots

Carrots are good for more than just Bugs Bunny. In fact, they are one of the healthiest snacks you can have. With a sweet taste and satisfying crunch, carrots can soothe junk food cravings when you are trying to be good. They are also high in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, which can reduce your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Read on to discover 10 compelling reasons why you should make carrots a daily habit.

1. Beta carotene

Carrots are a rich source of beta carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits. In the body, beta carotene is converted to vitamin A to maintain healthy skin. Studies show that beta carotene also protects the lungs against toxins that lead to lung cancer.

In fact, ex-smokers who consume beta carotene on a daily basis have been found to decrease their risk of both lung and stomach cancer. Other foods high in beta carotene include spinach, kale, and sweet potatoes.

2. Digestion

The body needs certain essential minerals, vitamins, fiber, and enzymes to power the process of digestionand carrots have them in spades. Carrots have equal amounts of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps to push food through the digestive system. The beta carotene converts to vitamin A, which boosts the health of your lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are cells that fight off food-borne pathogens.

3. Alkaline elements

Eating too much acid-forming food has a negative health effect, but eating carrots can help return the body to a beneficial pH level. While the body needs both acid and alkaline foods, it needs more of the latter while our modern diets tend to contain too much of the former. Aim for about 80% of your daily food intake to be alkalizing foods like carrots and other root vegetables.

4. Potassium

Potassium works in partnership with sodium to balance fluid levels, which contributes to the health of your kidneys and reduces high blood pressure. Unfortunately, we tend to get a lot more sodium than we need because it is packed into all kinds of processed foods at an incredible level. Carrots can help bring that balance back into alignment to relieve strain on your kidneys and entire circulatory system.

6. Wounds

There are two compounds in carrots that can speed the healing of wounds – vitamin C and beta carotene. Vitamin C is associated with a healthy immune system and the production of collagen, a critical component of skin. Beta carotene is known to reduce inflammation so that skin can heal faster. You may simply add more carrots to your diet when you have a wound or else pack some grated carrots into a compress and apply directly to the affected area once it has scabbed over.

7. Eyes, hair, nails and skin

The balanced nutritional profile of carrots is good for the whole body, including hair, nails, skin, and eyes. The phytonutrients deliver some of the ingredients that the body needs to build new cells. This is a process that happens all the time, but when you have a nutritional deficiency, the new cells are not as healthy as they could be and have a shortened lifespan. Healthy young cells make for clear eyes, glowing skin, and strong nails.