CARROT JUICE
- I will never understand why many of my customers avoid carrot juice. I try my best to market this nutrient dense juice but it keeps getting rejected except its mixed with other fruits like orange, pineapple, beetroot etc. The most common reason I hear for this rejection is that carrot juice is not sweet. yes, this could be true in rainy season but during dry seasons like December – March, carrot juice is deliciously sweet.
- Here are few reasons you should begin exploring this delicious goodness. Read on, my personal testimony will also boost your morale.
- Facts about Carrot
- Carrots are one of the most essential cultivated vegetable crops in history and the most popular root vegetable worldwide.
- They get their orange color from antioxidants called carotenoids. One of these carotenoids is beta-carotene, a foundation to active vitamin A responsible for many carrot and carrot juice benefits.
- They are highly nutritious and cleansing due to their high fiber content. In addition, studies show that carrot intake may enhance the immune system and protect against stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cataracts, arthritis, heart diseases, bronchial asthma, and urinary tract infections.
- Some people avoid carrots because they believe carrots have high sugar content and will raise blood glucose. However, this belief is not supported by research.
- People with diabetes, or anyone else who may have trouble balancing blood sugar levels, should limit their consumption of carrot juice, as juicing carrots can concentrate the sugar in the vegetable (the process removes the protective fiber).
- Carrot juice is a bit higher in carbohydrates than raw carrots but is also a more concentrated source of vitamins A, C, K, B6, and potassium.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CARROT JUICE
Protects eye health
Three crucial nutrients — beta carotene, lutein, and Zeaxanthin —within carrots considerably boost eye health by helping to maintain good eyesight and night vision. Lutein and Zeaxanthin also work to reduce the risk of age-related vision loss.
Just one cup of chopped carrots provides over 400 percent of your daily vitamin A need due to their beta-carotene content. Vitamin A is one of the most crucial nutrients for protecting eye health and vision, especially as someone ages.
My Testimony
I started using eyeglasses at 28 years old and was actively using the glasses to read, watch TV, and drive. I am 44 as I write this, and no longer use eyeglasses. Can you imagine that? The change came when I transitioned to a plant-based diet. I have lived without eyeglasses for more than four years, and I drive at night!
High source of antioxidants (especially carotenoids/beta-carotene)
Carotenoids, found in carrots and other orange vegetables, are potent antioxidants that can help reduce your risk of various forms of temporary illnesses and serious chronic diseases. Carrots and carrot juice benefit the immune system by helping to defend the body from free radical damage, harmful bacteria, viruses, and inflammation.
The antioxidants responsible for these immune-enhancing effects include vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, Zeaxanthin, and polyphenols. Carrots are one of the highest natural sources of carotenoid phytochemicals and antioxidant beta-carotene, which studies suggest may help fight cancer by stopping DNA damage, levels of inflammation, and cell mutation.
Decreases risks of heart disease and stroke
Eating deeply orange-colored vegetables like carrots can help decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Despite other cardiovascular risks, current research indicates that carrot juice benefits heart health by lowering oxidative stress and improving the body’s defense against various cardiovascular diseases.
Carrots also help to lower cholesterol and boost bile production, which increases the body’s ability to digest fat. Furthermore, they are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. This quality not only helps your digestive system to absorb nutrition properly from your food, but it also directly influences the good cholesterol levels in your body.
It helps protect against cancer.
Consuming high levels of carotenoids from fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer recurrence. Studies show that the antioxidants in carrots may be able to fight leukemia cells and may play a role in reducing your risk of some of the most widespread types of cancers, including prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
A 2018 meta-analysis that investigated the association between dietary carrot intake and the risk of breast cancer concluded, “Overall current literature suggested that dietary carrot intake was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer.”
Other research also suggests that carrot benefits for men include the ability to decrease a man’s risk of prostate cancer. Furthermore, a few studies have shown that eating carrots may significantly prevent gastric cancer, the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality.
Additionally, carrot juice extract has been suggested as a potential treatment for leukaemia due to its “anti-cancer agents,” including polyacetylenes (falcarinol and falcarindiol-3-acetate) and carotenoids (beta-carotene and lutein).
Essential for maintaining oral health
The nutrients found in carrots help improve immunity, including the body’s ability to fight bacteria and toxins that enter through the mouth and live within the gums and teeth. In addition, certain minerals in the vegetable can be antibacterial and help prevent cavities and tooth decay.
They can also help remove plaque and stains from the teeth if eaten after meals. Once ingested, the fiber also boosts immunity by acting as a natural “digestive system brush,” fighting constipation, scrubbing away unwanted bacteria in the gut, and promoting better absorption of immune-boosting nutrients.
Boosts skin health and wound healing
Carrot’s benefits for the skin are due to the presence of compounds, including beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. Beta-carotene is critical for healing wounds, which is why carrots have even been used in remedies for wound healing for centuries.
Suppose you have any skin infection, cuts, or other wounds. In that case, you’ll find that carrots and carrot juice benefit your skin health by increasing your ability to heal faster, fight infections and even reduce signs of skin inflammation.
Protects brain health and cognitive function
Carrot’s benefits may also include boosting brain health by helping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, improving memory, and defending against other types of cognitive decline. This benefit is due to carrot’s ability to lower oxidative stress in the brain, which can weaken nerve-signaling capacity.
All these health benefits and much more I couldn’t cover are what you stand to gain by choosing carrot juice.