12 Surprising Health Benefits of Carrots You Need to Know

Carrot is a highly nutritious food, whether consumed raw or cooked. In addition, it is a vegetable commonly used in gastronomy for the preparation of a wide variety of recipes.

Among the benefits of carrots, the fact that it is a powerful antioxidant that contains beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamins (A, B, B3, C, D, E, and K) stands out. Not to mention that it is a source of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, and calcium, which are essential to stop the premature aging of our cells (1).

There are so many benefits of carrots that even in 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that carrots have “promising effects” to effectively fight cancer (2). Likewise, an article published in 2020 also comments on this fact, arguing that carrots are an effective agent to prevent serious diseases (3). Truly, it is a delicious and healthy vegetable.

So that you have a clearer idea of ​​how important it is to consume carrots, in this article we want to share with you all the benefits that this vegetable offers you for the health and well-being of your body. Don’t forget to read all its benefits!

1. Strengthens teeth and gums

Carrot consumption helps strengthen teeth and gums. However, to get this benefit, it is recommended to chew raw carrots.

Likewise, it helps prevent bacteria from adhering to the teeth, thus preventing the appearance of cavities.

In addition to this, carrots also help strengthen tooth enamel. This is because this vegetable is also rich in fluoride, which will strengthen your teeth.

2. Diuretic

Thanks to its high water content, this vegetable provides hydration to our body and helps us eliminate harmful compounds. Therefore, another benefit of carrots is that it acts as a powerful diuretic that facilitates the elimination of toxins and solutes, preventing the formation of kidney stones.

3. Stimulates appetite

Carrots contain essential oils that provide the characteristic smell and flavor of this vegetable, stimulating the appetite of both children and adults.

Its consumption is highly recommended by nutritionists for the development of children and in people’s recovery from illnesses or post-surgical treatments. This is because it nourishes and stimulates the consumption of other foods.

4. Strengthens nails and hair

One of the benefits of carrots most valued by people, especially women, is that it helps strengthen and beautify nails and hair. It is a powerful ally for feminine beauty.

This is because, the carrot properties highlight its high content of beta-carotene and provitamin A (which, once ingested, are transformed into retinol or vitamin A). These molecules act as a revitalizer of cells damaged by the effect of environmental pollution, thus helping to strengthen nails and scalp.

5. Fight constipation

Carrot helps the proper functioning of the digestive system. It is one of the vegetables with the highest fiber content, which helps the body with good digestion and combats constipation.

It has been proven that consuming raw carrots will not only help you regulate digestion and combat constipation, but it will also relieve stomach pain due to poisoning and gastric discomfort. Therefore, its consumption is recommended in the treatment of gastritis.

6. Good for the eyes

Perhaps this is one of the benefits of carrots best known to many. It has been proven that regular consumption of carrots promotes greater visual acuity.

Furthermore, thanks to its high content of beta-carotene, vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin, carrot is an essential element in preventing the appearance of cataracts in the eyes and delaying macular degenerative processes.

Scientific studies have proven that a lack of vitamin A in the body can cause various pathologies that make vision difficult, which are linked to premature aging and blindness. The WHO argues that one of the main causes of childhood blindness is a deficiency of this vitamin. Therefore, since carrots are rich in vitamin A, their consumption is important for the care and development of vision.

7. Invigorates the mind, energy for the brain

Carrot contains phosphorus and potassium, which are nutrients that contribute to the restoration of the nervous system, providing energy.

This vegetable is ideal for tired minds. Its regular consumption will help you combat fatigue, providing your body with the vitality it needs to carry out day-to-day activities.

8. Increases the quality of breast milk

Carrot consumption is recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. This is because, thanks to its high beta-carotene and vitamin A content, carrots directly affect the production and quality of breast milk. In these cases, it is advisable to consume it preferably raw, to also take advantage of its water and vitamin C content.

9. Anti-cancer properties

The digital magazine “Consumer” recently published an article endorsing the anti-cancer properties of carrots, stating the following:

“A team of British and Danish scientists has carried out a study that shows that a compound in carrots has an important effect on cancer prevention (…). This work could help the manufacture of drugs against the disease, although first its effects would have to be analyzed more exhaustively (…)” (4).

Likewise, as stated in the introduction to this article, in 2014 the WHO published a report on the fight against cancer. It indicated that carrots are important in preventing cancer.

This WHO report argued that the constant consumption of carrots and other vegetables rich in carotenoids (such as spinach, for example) is essential to prevent some types of cancer, such as breast cancer2.

Likewise, another article published by the website “lifestyle.americaeconomia.com” highlights the anti-cancer properties of this vegetable as one of the benefits of carrots. This article says the following:

“Scientists at the University of Newcastle, in the United Kingdom, discovered that boiled carrots without being divided contain 25% more falcarinol, an active component against the disease (…).

Lead researcher Dr Kirsten Brandt told the BBC: ‘Cutting carrots increases the surface area of ​​the vegetable so that nutrients leach into the water during the cooking process.’ ‘On the other hand, keeping them whole and cutting them later keeps the nutrients and flavor inside, so they are better in every way,’ added Brandt” (5).

In this sense, it is recommended to cook carrots completely to take advantage of their anti-cancer benefits. If you cut it, you will be wasting its properties by cooking it in water.

Include this valuable food in your daily diet. Preventing cancer is everyone’s task.

10. Skin health

Carrots not only allow you to get a good tan. The beta-carotenes in carrots also offer a citrus component that helps in the healing processes of skin conditions. For this reason, carrots were previously used to perform natural skin treatments to cure burns, eliminate acne, or heal wounds.

Likewise, carrot is an effective natural sunscreen. Carotenoids and their antioxidant properties protect the skin against the sun’s rays. If you have plans to go on vacation to the beach, we recommend consuming natural carrot juices so that they provide your body with greater protection against sunlight.

11. Prevents aging

The beta-carotene and vitamin A contained in carrots also add benefits to your skin. Its antioxidant property helps fight free radicals, helping to prevent signs of premature aging (such as wrinkles or skin spots, for example).

12. Protect the heart

Carrot also helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, which is why you should eat it daily, whether cooked or raw. Its antioxidant properties and the contribution of vitamins it provides to our body help eliminate fat, thus preventing the formation of plaques in the arteries.

Drinking carrot juice daily will help you reduce oxidative processes and improve the body’s defenses. Thus, it can reduce the risks of heart disease by up to 35%.