CARROT: ITS HEART AND OTHER BENEFITS

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Carrot can be consumed as juice, soup or salad. Further it is also used in various recipes. It is also used to prepare various sweet dishes. Carrot has both health and Cosmetic benefits.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CARROT

Carrots with high content of betacarotene have tremendous health benefits. It is the betacarotene which gives them orange color. Studies in mice and human have shown that conversion of Betacarotene to Vitamin A prevents atherosclerosis by reducing bad cholesterol in the blood. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of death worldwide. They are beneficial for blood sugar regulation. They are rich in Vitamin A and hence good for eyes and are also good source of fiber. They also contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol that may be responsible for a reduced risk of cancers. Carrot juice is considered good for detoxification. They also act as natural tooth brush.Further cooked carrots are found to be more useful than their raw counterparts. Cooking it seems releases more nutrients because it breaks down the cell walls of the vegetables. However don't overdo it. A minute or two steaming is all that is required to soften cells up and yet preserve the vitamins that are sensitive to heat. But if you still like your veggies raw they will still give you good nutrients. Or you could just use a juicer –mashing vegetable cells works similarly to cooking.

BENEFITS OF CARROT FOR SKIN

Carrot is excellent to treaty dry skin in winter and can be used in following ways

1. Two tbsp of grounded carrot, should be mixed with one tbsp of honey, apply on your face and leave if on for 10 minutes. This mask lightens the dark skin and also helps to treat the dry skin.

2. A mask of almond with carrot is also useful to treat dry skin in winter. Mix eight washed almonds, with carrot which has been grounded with a 3/4th cup moderately hot milk. Add a spoon full oil to this, and apply the mixture to face and neck and wash after five minutes.

BENEFITS OF CARROT TO CONTROL OBESIETY

Carrot being low in calories are good to control obesiety. A 100 gm Carrot contains only 48 calories. Further it has both soluble and nonsoluble fibre , and food with high fibre content is required to shed weight. Its consumption gives a feeling of fullness thus prevents you from binge eating.