Health Benefits of Carrots

by Jason Jones

There are more than 600 known carotenoids. Carotenoids are
naturally occurring plant pigments that provide the orange
and yellow colors we see in plants and their produce. The
vibrant orange color of carrot is provided by its high
carotenoid content, in fact carrots are the biggest known
source of carotenoids. Of the 600 known carotenoids, about
50 of them can also be converted to vitamin A by the liver.

The most famous of these carotenoids is beta-carotene, which
is also the most abundant carotenoid found in carrots.
Beta-carotene is also the most common carotenoid that is
turned into vitamin A. As vitamin A is only found in animal
products, particularly dairy, carotenoids can be an
essential source of vitamin A for vegans.

A deficiency in vitamin A is actually the root cause of
night blindness. Vitamin A is needed to create another
substance in the body called rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a
purple colored substance that allows the eye to see at
night; without it we become night blind.

As antioxidants, beta-carotene and other carotenoids in
carrots help protect the eyes from harmful oxygen molecules
in UV light. These harmful molecules, also known as free
radicals, attack healthy cells in the eyes. This damage is
one major risk factor for the development of glaucoma,
cataracts and macular degeneration.

Carotenoids are also strongly associated with cancer
prevention. As antioxidants, they can protect DNA cells from
oxidation damage, which is one cause of cancer. Many studies
show that a high carotenoid diet can reduce the risk of
getting cancer of the lungs, colon, esophagus and the
prostate by up to 50%.

An abundance of carotenoids in the diet are also associated
with reduced risk of developing cancers. A vast amount of
research suggests that eating just one carrot a day can cut
the likelihood of developing lung cancer in half. Research
also provides evidence that a high consumption of
carotenoids reduces the risk of developing bladder, colon,
esophagus and prostate cancers by up to 50%.

Carotenoids also protect us from becoming night blind when
they are transformed into vitamin A. Some of this Vitamin A
in turn is converted into rhodopsin, a purple plant pigment
needed in the eye to see at night. Vitamin A deficiency will
inevitably lead to night blindness and eventually complete
blindness if not supplied in the diet.

To increase your daily intake of carotenoids, I recommend
making your own homemade carrot juice. Carotenoids, like
other nutrients, always work best when taken naturally in a
food source. Juicing also makes carotenoids more easily
available for digestion.

Jason Jones enjoys writing about health and well being,
particlarly about food, nutrition and natural healing. He is
also an advocate of 'going green' to ensure the well being
of this planet. You can visit his health website
(http://juicerrecipesnow.com) benefits of juicing