Carrots Nutritional Value

A carrot is a root vegetable, its edible part being a taproot. The carrot plant is a biennial plant, and it belongs to the family of Umbelliferae. The edible root of the plant, i.e. what we call carrot, is a slender and fleshy orange-colored taproot, which is known for being an excellent source of carotenoids, and a great many vitamins and nutrients.

Facts About Carrots
It is a power pack of several nutrients including, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It contains a very small amount of total as well as saturated fats, for which it can be an excellent food for those trying to lose weight, or cut down the amounts of fats in their diet. Additionally, it contains no cholesterol. As far as the vitamins are concerned, carrots are abundant in beta carotene, which can be converted by our body into vitamin A. They also contain a high level of Vitamin C, E, K, and B vitamins, such as thiamin, folate, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6.

In addition to vitamins, it contain significant amounts of several vital minerals, including, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, and magnesium. 100 grams of carrots is found to provide almost 43 calories, 10 gm carbohydrates, 1gm protein, and 3 gm fiber. The same quantity of carrots contain approximately, 9.2 mg vitamin C, 0.8 mg vitamin E, 0.147 mg vitamin B6, 0.93 mg niacin and 10108 mcg beta carotene. The calcium content in 100 gm of carrots is about 27 mg, while that of magnesium is 15 mg. On the other hand, 100 gm of carrots usually contain 44 mg of phosphorus, potassium is 323 mg, 0.6 mg of iron, 35 mg sodium, 0.2 mg zinc and 1.1 mcg selenium.

Advantages of Including Carrots in Your Diet
The sheer abundance of vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients makes it an ideal food for relieving several health problems or disorders.

• The high amount of amount of beta carotene found in carrots can be easily converted to vitamin A, deficiency of which can result in poor vision and night blindness. So, adding a few carrots in the daily diet can help to reverse such vision problems.
• It can improve the overall condition of the skin and hair. The high calcium content of this vegetable can help to strengthen the bones as well.
• The phytonutrients like, beta carotene, alpha carotene, xanthophyll and zeaxanthin found in carrots are powerful antioxidants, that can protect the body from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals. This in turn, can lower the risk for several diseases, including heart diseases like atherosclerosis and strokes.
• Its juice is regarded as one of the most refreshing vegetable juices, that can help to detoxify the body, and reduce stress and fatigue, by providing instant energy.
• The high amount of dietary fiber makes this vegetable an effective home remedy for constipation. If taken daily, carrot juice is one of the best methods for ensuring regular bowel movements.
• Its daily intake can significantly lower the risk for developing several types of cancer.
• It is also thought to be beneficial in the treatment of infertility. In women, it can stimulate or increase menstrual flow.
• It can boost the immune system, enhancing its ability to fight against the infectious agents. It can also invigorate the adrenal glands.
• In addition to these, some other health benefits of this vegetable are regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure and alleviation of several health conditions, including anemia, asthma, insomnia, ulcers, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, gum diseases, and water retention.

Including a few carrots in the daily diet, or drinking a glassful of carrot juice can provide us the vital nutrients required for maintaining general health and well-being. Besides, it can be consumed in several ways by boiling, frying, steaming, or as delicious carrot juice or soup. To sum up, a healthy and balanced diet would be simply incomplete without fresh fruits and vegetables like carrots.