Benefit of carrot

The carrot (Daucus carota) 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.

Carrots are found in many colors, including yellow, white, orange, red, and purple.

Orange carrots get their bright color from beta carotene, an antioxidant that your body converts into vitamin A.

This article tells you everything you need to know about carrots.

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.

Eating low glycemic foods is linked to numerous health benefits and 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.