By Brent Hauver

Owner of Sage Health and Empowerment

When something becomes common, it loses its glamor. It gets overlooked and undervalued through no fault of its own. People love novelties, and are always looking for the next big health secret to solve all of their problems. The more exotic and rare the new item, the more credence it is given. It’s human nature. We hold cheaply what is easily available and glorify the unattainable. It’s a natural tendency, but every once in a while, the contribution of the common must be acknowledged. Thus it is time to recognize a prince among vegetables – the carrot!

Carrots are the second most popular type of vegetable afterpotatoes. Carrots are known as the vegetable that is easy to grow andeasy to use. Carrot plants can grow during almost any season, especially in mountain areas. That makes carrots a convenient food source in many areas for much of the year.

Apart from that, carrots are also good sources of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin K, biotin, fiber, potassium and thiamine. The nutritional value of carrots cannot fail to impress.

1. Prevent Cancer: Many studies shown that eating carrots may help lower the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. Recently, researchers have isolated a compound called falcarinol in carrots that may be largely responsible for anti-cancer benefits. Falcarinol is a natural pesticide found in carrots that protects roots from fungal diseases. In daily diet, carrots are almost the only source of these compounds.

2. Improve Vision: The retina of the eye needs vitamin A to function, lack of vitamin A causes night blindness. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a substance which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. In the retina, vitamin A is transformed into rhodopsin, a purple pigment that necessary for night vision. In addition, beta-carotene helps protect against macular degeneration and the development of senile cataracts.

3. Prevent heart disease: A diet high in carotenoids is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. It is believed that regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber in carrots can help lower blood cholesterol levels by binding with and removing bile acids, cholesterol triggers would be pulled out from the bloodstream to make more bile acids.

4. Reduce the risk of stroke: People who eat more than six carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more.

5. Nourish Skin: Carrot has strong cleansing properties that are effective in detoxifying the liver, making it overall effective for treating acne that is caused by toxins in the blood. Carrot is also useful for treating uneven skin tones because of pigmentation. The vitamin A and other nutrients in carrot efficiently nourish the skin, prevent dry skin and other skin blemishes.

6. Anti-aging: Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, which serves as an antioxidant that helps the body to fight the cell damage done to the body with dirt in the bloodstream and even oxygen. It also help slows down the aging of cells and various negative effects associated with aging.

7. Dental Health: Carrots can even help clean your teeth, and is the best way to keep your mouth clean after meals. They act as natural abrasives, helping to eliminate the sticky dirt from the teeth and stimulate gums. They also trigger a lot of saliva, which helps to scrub away stains on your teeth. Minerals in carrots help to kill germs in the mouth and prevent tooth damage.

So here’s to the Carrot, a remarkable vegetable that’s often overlooked, but never under performs! Just because its common doesn’t mean it’s not extraordinary.