Carrots are often thought of as the ultimate health food.
You were probably told to "eat your carrots" by your parents and you
probably tell your kids the same thing, and when asked why, you explain,
"Because they're good for you!"
But how did the carrot get such a good reputation and why exactly are the root vegetables so good for our health?
It is believed that the carrot was first cultivated in the area now
known as Afghanistan thousands of years ago as a small forked purple or
yellow root with a woody and bitter flavor, resembling nothing of the
carrot we know today.
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Possible health benefits of carrots
An overwhelming body of evidence exists suggesting that increased intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables reduce
cancer and cardiovascular disease risks, carrots included.
Carrots are rich in vitamin A.
Cancer
A variety of dietary carotenoids have been shown to have anti-cancer effects due to their
antioxidant power in reducing free radicals in the body.
Lung Cancer
One study found that current smokers who did not consume carrots had three times the risk of developing
lung cancer compared with those who ate carrots more than once a week.
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Colorectal Cancer
Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the development of
colon cancer in the Japanese population.
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Leukemia
Carrot juice extract was shown to kill
leukemia cells and inhibit their progression in a 2011 study.
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Prostate Cancer
Among younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against
prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition.
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Vision
According to Duke ophthalmologist Jill Koury, MD,
vitamin
A deficiency causes the outer segments of the eye's photoreceptors to
deteriorate, damaging normal vision. Correcting vitamin A deficiencies
with foods high in beta-carotene will restore vision.
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Studies have shown that it is unlikely that most people will
experience any significant positive changes in their vision from eating
carrots unless they have an existing vitamin A deficiency, which is
common in developing countries.
So where did all the hype surrounding carrots and vision come from?
During World War II, the British Royal Air Force started an advertising
campaign claiming that the secret to their fighter pilots clear, sharp
vision was carrots. Realistically, the fighter pilot's accuracy was due
to a new radar system the British wanted to keep secret from the
Germans, but the rumor spread and remains popular today.
Other possible benefits of carrots
The antioxidants and phytochemicals in carrots may also help with blood
sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging, and improve immune
function.