Carrots and diet

الجزر

Carrots were first known and cultivated about five thousand years ago in Afghanistan, but they were significantly different from the carrots we know today. They were a small yellow or purple root with a bitter taste, and were then developed into the sweet orange carrots that we know today by farmers. Dutch in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Carrots (in English: Daucus carota) are classified as root vegetables, and they have many medicinal properties, as it should be noted that in the beginning they were grown for medicinal purposes only, and this is due to them containing many antioxidants and other nutritional elements such as vitamin K and potassium, as well as It is rich in a natural chemical called beta-carotene, which is converted in the body into vitamin A.

Carrots and diet

Carrots have many health benefits, including that they help lose weight when eaten as part of a balanced diet. This is because they contain a good percentage of water and fiber, which increases the feeling of fullness, in addition to containing small amounts of calories. It can be said This applies to many other foods that have similar characteristics.

carrot benefits

Carrots have many health benefits, because they contain various compounds and nutritional elements, but scientific studies and research have focused on their health benefits resulting from their containment of carotenoids, and some of those benefits are mentioned below:

• Reduces the risk of cancer: This applies to most foods rich in carotenoids, as researchers found that women with high levels of carotene were less likely to develop breast cancer, and carotene also reduces the risk of other types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and stomach cancer. (in English: Stomach cancer), and colon cancer (in English: Colon cancer).
• Contributes to maintaining eye health: Eating carrots and foods rich in vitamin A and carotenoids helps improve cases of night blindness, and carotenoids also help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
• Helps regulate blood sugar levels: Carbohydrates constitute a small percentage in carrots, and according to the Harvard Health website, the glycemic index for carrots is 39, meaning that eating them does not significantly affect blood sugar levels. In addition, antioxidants Antioxidants and phytochemicals found in carrots may help regulate blood sugar levels.
• It helps regulate blood pressure: The American Heart Association recommends eating a diet rich in fiber. It also recommends increasing the intake of potassium and reducing the amount of sodium. This is to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. It is worth noting that carrots are a food that contains high amounts of fiber and potassium.
• Improves immune system functions: This is because carrots contain vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases. It can also help reduce the severity and duration of colds.

Carrot nutritional value

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an average carrot, which weighs about 61 grams, contains the following nutrients:

Warnings of eating carrots

Eating carrots is completely safe if used as food, but there is not enough information about the safety of using them in medicinal quantities. Below are some warnings specific to some categories:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Eating moderate amounts of carrots is considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but there is not enough information about the safety of taking it as a medicine during that period.
• children: It is safe for children to eat carrots in normal amounts, but it should be noted that giving large amounts of carrot juice to infants and young children may be unsafe. In addition, consuming large amounts of carrot juice may cause yellowing of the skin and tooth decay.
• Allergies: As carrots are likely to cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to birch, celery, mugwort, spices and related plants.
• diabetes: Eating carrots can lead to a decrease in blood sugar levels, which may cause interference with diabetes medications. Therefore, people with diabetes are advised to monitor their blood sugar levels when eating a large amount of carrots.