Carrot Nutrition FactsCarrot nutrition and health benefits are plenty. Natives of Afghanistan and with thousands of years of history, carrots are well known for having the most carotene- that is converted to vitamin A- content out of all the fruits and vegetables. Carrots grow in a variety of colors- yellow, red, purple or even white. The original carrot color was anything but orange. They are related to cumin, dill, fennel and parsnips. It was the first vegetable to be canned in the early 1800s. China, Russia and the United States are the largest carrot producers in the world. Carrots are about 87% water. Too many carrots can make your skin turn yellowish, the skin gets back to normal when you reduce the number of carrots you eat. Orange carrots get their color from beta carotene. Carrots are more nutritious when cooked. Cooking dissolves cell walls, freeing up nutrients. 
*Before we continue with the carrot nutrition facts, I'd like to tell you about a healthy diet program that uses a lot of the lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'. The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results. The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a go and let me know how you went. 'The Diet Solution Program' is without a doubt one of the best diet programs out there.*
Carrot Nutrition and Health Benefits: Carrots are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, high in dietary fiber, vitamin A, B6 and C, niacin, thiamin, potassium, folate and manganese. Carrot greens are high in vitamin K, which is lacking in the carrot itself. They have the highest carotene content out of all the fruits and vegetables, which the body converts to vitamin A. Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Carrots are good for improving eyesight. They encourage healthy skin, hair, again due to high antioxidant and vitamin A content. Vitamin A also promotes growth of bones and teeth and the maintenance of healthy body tissues. 
High-carotenoid diets are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Researchers found that people who ate the most beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration-common eye disease of elderly compared with those who consumed the least. Beta-carotene consumption has been also linked to reduced risk of several cancers, particularly lung cancer. Carotenoids may be beneficial to blood sugar regulation. Certain studies claimed that carotenoids may be inversely linked with high blood glucose and insulin resistance. If you smoke or if you are exposed to secondhand smoke, then carrots- vitamin A can save your life according to a research by Kansas State University. Selecting and Storage: Choose the well shaped ones with smooth skin and nice orange color. The more the orange-color, the more beta-carotene there will be in the carrot. The bigger is not better when it comes to carrots, buy carrots that are less than 8 inches - 20cms long. To maintain the carrot nutrition- especially proteins and soluble carbs, it is best to cook them whole and then cut into pieces. Store them in the coolest part of the fridge in a plastic bag to reduce the moisture, but before putting them into the fridge, cut off the green bits, rinse the carrots and drain. References: An overview of the nutritional value of carrots of different colors, Philipp Simon, Pigment Power in Carrot Color, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, University of WisconsinMadison. http://www.healthdiaries.com/ eatthis/ 25-facts-about-carrots.html. Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988 1988. PMID:15220: Carrot Nutrition . Li T, Molteni A, Latkovich P, Castellani W, Baybutt RC. Vitamin A depletion induced by cigarette smoke is associated with the development of emphysema in rats. J Nutr. 2003 Aug;133(8):2629-34. 2003. PMID:12888649. http://www.whfoods.com/ genpage.php? tname=foodspice&dbid=21 . |
I know just the perfect way to lose belly fat and get the perfect abs without overhyped supplements, long boring cardio, or bogus ab gadgets!
|
