Did your mother tell you eating carrots would help you see in the dark? Well this old wives tale has some truth whilst they may not actually help you see in the dark carrots really do give your eyes a boost because they contain beta-carotene, which the body is able to convert into vitamin A, an essential vitamin for healthy vision!
Carrots are those faithful vegetables loved by all, they are one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the world, they grow relatively easily, and are versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines from Asian stir fries to Western Roasts .
However Carrots are not only deliciously tasty but they contain a cocktail of nutrients including beta carotene, vitamin K, C and B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron and copper.
Carrots are one of the known food that could help lower cholesterol also because of their high soluble fibre content. A Canadian test found that men who ate about two and a half raw carrots every day saw their cholesterol sink an average 11% and another German study concluded that the amount of beta carotene in one or two carrots also boosted good HDLs significantly.
Due to their rich potassium content they may help protect the heart. Potassium is a vasodilator it helps relax the tension in your blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood flow and circulation, boosting organ function throughout the body which could help reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system.
Eating a carrot every day reduces the risk of stroke by 68%. Many studies have strengthened the belief in the “carrot effect” on the brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of beta carotene had the highest survival rate.
So raw sliced in salads, juiced, boiled, steamed or roasted carrots are always a good choice for your health!