The Health Benefits of Carrots

The cultivated carrot as we know it today is a far cry from the wild carrot found growing about 5,000 years ago in the area now known as Afghanistan. These wild varieties were purple or black, and had a tough, fibrous texture, and carrots only became orange in the 1500's when patriotic Dutch growers developed a carrot in an attempt to nationalize the country's favorite vegetable.

In 1940 Britain's Air Ministry invented the carrot myth, which was that a diet of carrots gave pilots night vision in order to see Nazi bombers attacking at night. This propaganda was spread to conceal the fiercely kept secret of Royal Air Force's interception radar, which was able to pinpoint enemy bombers before they reached the English Channel. The Germans fell for these lies because this myth was already a part of their folklore.

Health Benefits of Carrots

Nutrients
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A. They are a very good source of vitamin K, biotin, and fiber. They are a good source of vitamins C and B6, potassium, and thiamine.

Glycemic Index (GI)
In a study to determine the GI of various vegetables, it was concluded that raw carrots have a low GI of 47.

Vision
Beta-carotene provides protection against macular degeneration and the development of cataracts in the elderly.
The results of study of night-blind pregnant women showed that a diet of vitamin A rich foods was beneficial in improving night blindness.
A study of 1,155 women suggests that higher intake of certain fruits and vegetables such as carrots may be associated with a decreased risk of glaucoma.

Cardiovascular Disease
Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and in a 15-year study on elderly men, it was concluded that dietary intakes of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene from carrots and other vegetables help protect against cardiovascular disease.
In another study that examined the diets of 1,300 elderly persons, those who had at least one serving of carrots and/or squash each day had a 60 percent reduction in risk of heart attacks compared to those who ate less than one serving of these carotenoid-rich foods per day.

Cancer
High carotene intake has been linked with a 20 percent decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer and up to a 50 percent decrease in the incidence of cancers of the bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophagus. Extensive human studies suggest that a diet including as little as one carrot per day could conceivably cut the rate of lung cancer in half.

The Health Benefits of Brown Rice

Brief History of Brown Rice Nutrients in Brown Rice

The Health Benefits of Oranges

Oranges are classified into sweet and bitter categories, and popular sweet varieties are Valencia, navel, Jaffa and the hybrid blood orange. The bitter oranges are utilized in jams, marmalades,

The Health Benefits of Watermelon

Brief History of Watermelon Nutrients in Watermelon

The Health Benefits of Green Tea

According to an ancient Chinese legend, a Chinese emperor discovered tea when leaves from a wild tea bush fell into a pot of water he was boiling. Green tea originates from China, and is

The Health Benefits of Shiitake Mushrooms

Brief History of Shiitake Mushrooms Nutrients in

References:
1. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno.
2. Benders' Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology.
3. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
4. Buijsse B, Feskens EJ, Kwape L, Kok FJ, Kromhout D. Both alpha- and beta-carotene, but not tocopherols and vitamin C, are inversely related to 15-year cardiovascular mortality in Dutch elderly men. J Nutr. 2008 Feb;138(2):344-50. PMID: 18203902.
5. Coleman AL, Stone KL, Kodjebacheva G, Yu F, Pedula KL, Ensrud KE, Cauley JA, Hochberg MC, Topouzis F, Badala F, Mangione CM; Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Glaucoma risk and the consumption of fruits and vegetables among older women in the study of osteoporotic fractures. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Jun;145(6):1081-9. Epub 2008 Mar 20. PMID: 18355790.
6. Haskell MJ, Pandey P, Graham JM, Peerson JM, Shrestha RK, Brown KH. Recovery from impaired dark adaptation in nightblind pregnant Nepali women who receive small daily doses of vitamin A as amaranth leaves, carrots, goat liver, vitamin A-fortified rice, or retinyl palmitate. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Feb;81(2):461-71. PMID: 15699236.