We all know carrots are healthy. We’ve known it since we were kids and Bugs Bunny kept nibbling on them all the time. But, most of us know they are good for eyesight and that’s about it. It is as far as our curiosity goes it seems.
Well, today, in this age of beauty products, expensive procedures, and so-called “miracle” treatments, it would benefit us greatly to revisit this old-school, natural vegetable that does so much more than improve eyesight (as if that weren’t enough).
What is a Carrot?
Carrots are root veggies, from the Daucus carota species (wild carrot), which is domesticated into the types we know today. The wild carrot was native to Southwestern Asia and Europe, while it is believed it originates from the Persian empire.
Its taproot is the part most commonly used, but its seeds and leaves are eaten as well. The domesticated types of carrots have less “woody”, larger, and more palatable taproot than their wild predecessor.
Where do our carrots come from?
Virtually half of the world’s supply today is grown in China. Carrots and turnips are combined by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) for statistics, and together the worldwide production of these two plants exceeds 40 million tons.
How are Carrots beneficial for our health?
It is known and confirmed by science that carrots contain beta carotene, a nutrient that even got its name from them. It is a skin-friendly substance that our body converts to vitamin A, once ingested. It protects the skin, making it resistant to Sun’s radiation and it also helps the tissue reparation process.
Vitamin A also reduces the amount of excess oil in the skin, while drinking carrot juice is said to help with blemishes, scars, and similar things. This goes for consuming carrot juice and also applying it to the affected area.
Besides reducing excess oil in the skin, carrots also nourish dry skin, so it balances out the moisture levels we need. This is because they contain ample levels of potassium. And, keratin and vitamin A also fight plaque, so they are beneficial for the teeth.
With a little more veggies like carrots in your diet, and a little less bad foods and stuff like alcohol, you will be amazed at the results you can achieve. You will have a lot fewer wrinkles, a lot more flexible skin, and carrots will even do wonders for your hair and immune system. That’s all besides being beneficial for our eyesight!
