What Are The Health Benefits Of Carrots, Can They Help Blood Pressure?

I’m sure you know…  carrots are one of the most widely used vegetables in the world. But, do you know the health benefits of carrots?

Carrots are widely used because they grow relatively fast and can be used in a number of cultural cuisines and dishes.

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Carrots are typically orange in color but also come in other colors such as yellow, white, purple and red but are not very common.

The taproot of the carrot is the most eaten and juiced, but the greens are also important in salads. Carrots have lots of medicinal value and health benefits as well as great taste in dishes and this makes it an important part in cooking.


The beta carotene and fiber content contribute to most benefits that carrots have. They are a great source of antioxidant agents, rich in:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin B8
  • Iron
  • Copper
  • Potassium
  • Folate
  • Pantothenic acid
  • Manganese

This list of organic compounds and nutrients affect the human health in very many positive ways which include:

Eating Raw Carrots Prevents Heart Disease

A study by the researchers at the Wolfson gastrointestinal laboratory in Edinburg, Scotland showed that the levels of cholesterol drop by an average of 11% if seven ounces of raw carrot are consumed in three weeks.

High Cholesterol in the body leads to heart disease. It is therefore a good idea to eat carrots regularly since they reduce cholesterol levels in the body.

According to a group of Swedish scientists, carrots reduce the chances of a heart attack because they contain carotenoids, believed to lower the risk of a heart diseases.

Those who eat a lot of carrots have lower chances of having a heart attack as compared to those who eat few of them.

Coumarin Found In Carrots Stabilizes Blood Pressure

In the case that your blood pressure rises ensure that you eat a carrot. They are rich in potassium which acts as a vasodilator and it relaxes the tension in the blood vessels as well as the arteries which in turn leads to increased blood flow and circulation.

This leads to boosting of organ functions in the body and reduces stress to the cardiovascular system.

Strokes, heart attack, atherosclerosis are linked directly to high blood pressure. Carrots have coumarin which reduces hypertension and protects the heart health.

Vitamins In Carrots Act As Immune Boosters

The antiseptic and antibacterial abilities in carrots are ideal for a boost of the immunity system.



Carrots are also rich in vitamin C which fuel the activity of the white blood cells which are part of the most important elements in the human immune system.

Health Benefits Of Carrots: Fiber Content Assist In Digestion

The orange roots or any other color of carrots have significant amounts of dietary fiber just like in most vegetables.

Good digestive health is easily maintained by the ingestion of foods rich in fiber. It adds bulk to stool which helps it pass easily through the digestive tract.

Fiber also fuels peristaltic motion and the secretion of gastric juices. These aspects of fiber reduce the chances of constipation.

The colon and stomach are protected from serious illnesses which include colorectal cancer. The heart is also a beneficiary of fiber intake since it eliminates excess LDL cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and arteries.

Beta-Carotene In Carrots Prevents Cancer

Carrots have beta-carotene which when consumed reduces the risk of some type of cancers and in this case lung cancer.

According to some British researchers, the increase in the consumption of beta-carotene from 1.7 to 2.7 mgs in a day reduces the chances of lung cancer infection by more than 40%.

An average carrot size has about 3mg of beta-carotene. Another study also showed that eating carrots rich in fiber reduce the chances of colon cancer by a margin of 24%.

There is also a study that showed women who ate raw carrots five to eight times have lower chances of breast cancer that those who did not eat carrots.

Eating Carrots Reduces The Chances Of Macular Degeneration

This is an eye disease that affects the elderly and impairs the function of the macula.

According to a research done, it shows that people who eat high amounts of beta-carotene have a 40% risk of macular degeneration as compared to those who eat less.

When beta-carotene undergoes an enzymatic reaction, it forms provitamin A which is associated to antioxidant capacity related to vision.

Carrots have properties for all round vision boosting. Conditions such as night blindness are kept a bay.

Chewing Carrots Go A Long Way To Improve Oral Health

Carrots have organic compounds that are good for mineral antioxidants. Excess saliva is induced in the mouth when carrots are chewed.

Since saliva is an alkaline substance it kills the bacteria and foreign bodies that can lead to cavities, halitosis and any other oral health risk. The gum is also stimulated by carrots.

Carrot Effect On The Brain Reduces Chances Of Stroke

According to Harvard university study, people who eat more than five carrots a week have less chances of suffering a stroke. A reduction of up to 68% risk of stroke is brought about by the eating of carrots.

Many studies have increased the belief of the “carrot effect” on the brain. Stroke patients who have high levels of beta-carotene have a higher chance of survival according to studies that have been conducted.

Carotenoids In Carrots Are A Solution To Diabetes?

Carotenoids regulate blood sugar in the body. They inversely affect insulin resistance and hence lower the blood sugar levels. It helps diabetic patients live a normal life.

The amounts of insulin and glucose that is being used and metabolized in the body is also regulated. This leads to healthy fluctuations for diabetic patients.

The antiseptic qualities of carrots add a lot of value to them. They can be used as vermicides, laxatives and even as a remedy for liver conditions.

The skin also benefits from carrots since carrot oil acts perfectly on dry skin making it smoother, firmer and softer. Taken in form of carrot juice, it improves gastrointestinal and stomach health.

Carrots are the second most popular vegetable after potatoes and therefore it is not hard to find them in the market. Growing them can also be beneficial.

Carrots are a good choice for your health whether as a raw fruit, juice or in cooked form.

In a nutshell, these are vegetables that you will love to add to your food. They not only add color to your food but also make you to have healthy meals for you and your family.

They can be used to prepare a variety of delicacies in different parts of the world. They are very helpful to your body.

They are of different varieties which makes them even more interesting. Moreover, they can be eaten raw or cooked. So today, add flavor, color and nutrition from carrots.