Carrot Facts
Carrot Facts that are Interesting to Know
Bugs Bunny wasn't the only one with great eyesight – carrot facts say that you can improve your eyesight, too!
• The carrot is a vegetable of the root, generally white or orange, which is crisp when fresh. It was originally found in southwestern Asia and Europe, and bred to be a rich and palatable vegetable.
• China was the country that produced the most carrots in the last year data was available for, 2005. China was followed by the United States and Russia.
• The carrot, facts state, is easy to take along with you, and delicious with your favorite dip. Carrots have a sweet taste and a crunchy texture, and are a vegetable that adults and children all like. Carrots are in season in summer and fall, but they are shipped in from California for the rest of the year.
• The carrot has over 600% of the daily required allowance of Vitamin A, and also includes healthy amounts of Vitamins K and C, and fiber and potassium.
• The carrot, facts confirm, has a good amount of antioxidants, and is the vegetable that is richest in carotenes. The antioxidants in carrots help to protect you against cancer and cardiovascular diseases. They also promote excellent vision, especially at night.
• In a recent study, people who ate at least one portion of carrots or squash each day had better than a 50% less chance of having a heart attack. The carrot, facts say, is a high-carotenoid vegetable that helps protect you against heart disease.
• Beta-carotene is essential in helping us to keep our vision. Beta-carotene is also powerful in helping protect against senile cataracts and macular degeneration.
• If you ingest a good amount of carotenoid, carrot facts state, you can see roughly a twenty percent decrease in your risk of breast cancer (post menopausal), and nearly a fifty percent decrease in cancers of the cervix, colon, prostate, bladder, esophagus and larynx. If you eat only one carrot a day, you can even cut your risk of lung cancer in half.
• If you eat carrots and other foods rich in carotenoids, this may help you regulate your blood sugar. Carrots also possess a nutrient called falcarinol that may also help reduce your chances of getting cancer.
• Some suggestions for carrot-healthy foods include: Brighten up and enrich your salads by adding carrot greens and shredded carrots.
• Add a carrot, facts say, to sliced beets and apples, and it makes a great salad.
• Puree potatoes and carrots that have been boiled in a blender, and add whatever spices you like, to make a healthy soup.
• Take carrot juice that you have just squeezed, and add bananas and soy milk, to make a great-tasting breakfast shake. Enjoy carrots in many different ways!