Carrot love 101

Carrot Love

Ok so its mid morning and you still have an hour or more until lunch. while everyone else is running for the vending machine for some sweet and salty processed crap, you remember your lil buddy that you brought from home. That lil buddy is the carrot. Carrots have so many benefits for us humans. They’re more than just something to dip in some ranch on a veggie tray. Sweet and crunchy carrots are notably rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. They are effortless and fulfilling to grow in your own garden….

They are exceptionally rich source of carotenes and vitamin-A. 100 g fresh carrot contains 8285 µg of beta-carotene and 16706 IU of vitamin A. Studies have found that flavonoid compounds in carrots may offer protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers. (sources from http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/carrots.html )

Carotenes converted into vitamin A in the liver cells. Beta-carotene is the major carotene present in these roots. Beta carotene is one of the powerful natural anti-oxidant that helps protect human body from harmful oxygen-free radical injury. In addition, it also carry out all the functions of vitamin-A such as maintaining good eye health, reproduction (sperm production), maintenance of epithelial integrity, growth and development.

 In addition, they are especially rich in many B-complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc., that acts as co-factors to enzymes during substrate metabolism in the body.

 Carrots don’t have to be raw all the time either. I really enjoy roasting chopped carrots so they get soft on the inside and crispy on the edges. They are also great in vanilla protein shakes too. I personally try to eat a carrot every day not only for the health benefits but also because my lunch almost doesn’t feel complete without one. I personally don’t dip them in much cause I like the taste, but I have found that when I make tuna salad or sardine salad that a carrot dips very well and adds that crunchy flavor(try it) to my fish dishes. Cheap, portable, and delicious you cant go wrong with fitting carrots into your daily routine.