10 Healthy You: a guide to well-being


Healthbenefitsofcarrots


THIS SUPER VEGGIE PACKS A POWERFUL


NUTRITIONAL PUNCH METRONEWS SERVICE


Snacks can be a greatway to prevent overeating atmealtime, but such benefits can be negated if people choose thewrong snacks. Potato chips and sugary packaged


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baked goodsmay be readily available inside office vendingmachines and at convenience stores, but such snacks don’t pack the nutritional punch of carrots. Considered a superfood bymany


people, carrots are a simple snack that can be found at any grocery store and brought along to an office, regardless of whether that office is a traditional office, awork site or anywhere else people spend theirworkdays.


hen looking to quell hunger pangs that can pop up betweenmeals,many people reach for snacks.


Vitamins andminerals Carrots are a great source of various


vitamins andminerals. According to the health andwellness information siteHealthline®, carrots are great sources of vitamin A, biotin, vitamin K1, potassium, and vitamin B6. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene,


which the body converts into a vitamin A, a nutrient that promotes strong vision and plays a vital role in immune function. Studies have shown that biotin plays


an important role in the body’s ability tometabolize fat and protein. VitaminK1 plays a vital role in blood


coagulation,which is the process of making blood clot.Coagulation enables the blood to plug and heal a wound. Potassiumcan help people control


their blood pressure,which can benefit their long-termhealth in variousways. Finally, vitamin B6 plays a role in


converting food into energy,making it an ideal afternoon snack for people whowant to quell their hunger pangs and give themselves a needed energy boost.


Carrots and long-termhealth Carrots also have been shown to


have long-termhealth benefits. In 2016, the American Institute forCancer Research added carrots to its list of “Foods that FightCancer.”The links between carrots and reducing cancer risk aremany and include carrots’ status as a low-calorie snack. Low- calorie snacks can help people reduce their risk of overweight and obesity, which the AICR notes are a cause of 11 cancers. Studies, including one published in


the European Journal ofNutrition, have linked carrots to lower cholesterol levels.That’s a considerable benefit, as high cholesterol is among themost significant risk factors for heart disease. Carrots have long been touted as


helping to improve vision, and that reputation iswell-earned.When the beta-carotene in carrots is converted into vitamin A, that vitamin A combineswith a protein called opsin to formrhodopsin,which is needed for night and colour vision. When snack time beckons, carrots


can help people reap immediate and long-termrewards.


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