6 Possible Health Benefits of Carrots You Should Know About
Research shows that carrots can benefit your body in a variety of ways. Learn more about the health perks that can follow when you start eating more of them.
1. Carrots Promote Vision and Eye Health
Carrots stop short of giving you X-ray vision, but their concentrated beta-carotene content does benefit your peepers in more than one way.
“Vitamin A is important for eye health, so regular consumption of carrots, among other nutrient-rich foods, can certainly support eye health,” explains the nutrition consultant Chris Mohr, PhD, RD of Louisville, Kentucky.
2. Carrots Support Healthy Digestion
If you’re looking to improve the health of your gut microbiome — or your digestion in general — carrots can help.
3. Carrots May Help Lower Cholesterol
“Carrots have about 1.5 g of fiber each, which can add up quickly,” he says.
4. Carrots May Help Boost Immunity
“Specifically, they offer beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin C, which can all support cells and a stronger immune system,” he says.
One review found that carrots help protect immune cells from damage and keep immune responses balanced, so they aren’t swinging from overactive to underactive, which won’t effectively protect the body from germs such as bacteria and viruses.
5. Carrots Can Be Part of a Cancer-Preventive Diet
The fiber, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals carrots contain may also help protect against developing life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
“Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight against cancer and inflammation in the body,” Bishoff says.
6. Carrots May Help Speed Weight Loss
Carrots are often associated with healthy eating and dieting, and they have that reputation for good reason: With roughly 50 calories per cup and plenty of filling fiber, carrots are a far healthier option for those who crave ultra-processed foods that have crunch or sweetness.
“One cup of baby carrots contains between 3 to 4 g of fiber, which can help keep you satiated, while controlling blood sugar levels and fighting off food cravings,” says Bishoff.
In one study on men with obesity, those who ate more carotenoid-rich veggies (like carrots) for 8 weeks had significantly reduced belly fat.
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