Carrots

The carrot is a root vegetable often claimed to be the perfect health food. It is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Carrots are a particularly good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. They also have a number of health benefits. They’re a weight-loss-friendly food and have been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved eye health. What’s more, their carotene antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. Orange carrots get their bright color from beta-carotene, an antioxidant that your body converts into vitamin A.

Nutrition facts

Carrots’ water content ranges from 86–95%, and the edible portion consists of around 10% carbs. Carrots contain very little fat and protein. The nutrition facts for two small-to-medium raw carrots (100 grams) are:

Calories: 41

Water: 88%

Protein: 0.9 grams

Carbs: 9.6 grams

Sugar: 4.7 grams

Fiber: 2.8 grams

Fat: 0.2 grams

Carbs

Carrots are mainly composed of water and carbs. The carbs consist of starch and sugars, such as sucrose and glucose. They are also a relatively good source of fiber, with one medium-sized carrot (61 grams) providing 2 grams. Carrots often rank low on the glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar after a meal. Their GI ranges from 16–60 — lowest for raw carrots, a little higher for cooked ones, and highest for puréed. Eating low-glycemic foods is linked to numerous health benefits and is considered particularly beneficial for people with diabetes.

Fiber

Pectin is the main form of soluble fiber in carrots. Soluble fibers can lower blood sugar levels by slowing down your digestion of sugar and starch. They can also feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, which may lead to improved health and decreased risk of disease. What’s more, certain soluble fibers can impair the absorption of cholesterol from your digestive tract, lowering blood cholesterol. The main insoluble fibers in carrots are cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Insoluble fibers may reduce your risk of constipation and promote regular bowel movements.

Vitamins and minerals Carrots are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, especially biotin, potassium, and vitamins A (from beta carotene), K1 (phylloquinone), and B6.

Vitamin A: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. This nutrient promotes good vision and is important for growth, development, and immune function.

Biotin: A B vitamin formerly known as vitamin H, biotin plays an important role in fat and protein metabolism.

Vitamin K1: Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K1 is important for blood coagulation and can promote bone health.

Potassium: An essential mineral, potassium is important for blood pressure control.

Vitamin B6: A group of related vitamins, B6 is involved in the conversion of food into energy.

Other plant compounds

Carrots offer many plant compounds, including carotenoids. These are substances with powerful antioxidant activity that have been linked to improved immune function and reduced risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, various degenerative ailments, and certain types of cancer.

Beta carotene: Orange carrots are very high in beta carotene. The absorption is better (up to 6.5-fold) if the carrots are cooked. Beta carotene, the main carotene in carrots, can be converted into vitamin A in your body. However, this conversion process may vary by individual. Eating fat with carrots can help you absorb more of the beta carotene.

Alpha-carotene: An antioxidant that, like beta-carotene, is partly converted into vitamin A in your body.

Lutein: One of the most common antioxidants in carrots, lutein is predominantly found in yellow and orange carrots and is important for eye health.

Lycopene: A bright red antioxidant found in many red fruits and vegetables, including red and purple carrots, lycopene may decrease your risk of cancer and heart disease.

Polyacetylenes: Recent research has identified bioactive compounds in carrots that may help protect against leukemia and other cancers.

Anthocyanins: These are powerful antioxidants found in dark-colored carrots.

Reduced risk of cancer

Diets rich in carotenoids may help protect against several types of cancer. This includes prostate, colon, and stomach cancers. Women with high circulating levels of carotenoids may also have a reduced risk of breast cancer. Dated research suggested that carotenoids could protect against lung cancer, but newer studies have not identified a correlation.

Lower blood cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is a well-known risk factor for heart disease. The intake of carrots has been linked to lower cholesterol levels.

Weight loss

As a low-calorie food, carrots can increase fullness and decrease calorie intake in subsequent meals. For this reason, they may be a useful addition to an effective weight loss diet.

Eye health

Individuals with low vitamin A levels are more likely to experience night blindness, a condition that may diminish by eating carrots or other foods rich in vitamin A or carotenoids. Carotenoids may also cut your risk of age-related macular degeneration.