Power Food: Carrots

Carrots are certainly a power food, providing a rich source of many vitamins and minerals, dietary fibre, offering a host of benefits and best of all, they have a sweet satisfying taste that has made them a favourite of children and adults alike. Find out more about this power food below, and give our carrot recipesa try - Carrot & Parsnip Puree and Carrot Patties - you won't be sorry!

• Perfect Goal-Reaching Snack
No matter what your goals are, carrots can help! If your hoping to lose weight, munching on carrots not only keeps you from munching on unhealthier foods, but these fibre-filled crunchy wonders will fill you up and keep you going for much longer than any empty calorie-filled treat would. If your goal is to quit smoking, always have a bag of carrot sticks ready – not only will chewing them help the cravings pass, but carrots have been shown to help reduce the risk of lung cancer – so you’ll be giving your lungs twice the benefit from your quitting efforts! If you’re goal is to make healthier choices or have more energy, carrots are a great addition to your diet that will provide valuable nutrients needed to keep you healthy and full of the energy. In short – no matter what your goals or lifestyle, carrots make the perfect addition!


• Carotenoids (Beta-Carotene)
Carrots are one of the richest sources of carotenoids – powerful, fat-soluble pigments – which research shows offers many promising health benefits. The most well-known carotenoid is beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the liver. Carrots are an excellent source of this antioxidant-filled carotenoid, and diets high in carotenoids such as beta-carotene have been shown to protect and promote vision, reduce risk of cancer (in particular lung cancer), regulate blood sugar and boost immune system.


• Vitamin K
Vitamin K may be one of the lesser known vitamins, but its health benefits should not be overlooked. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in regulating blood clotting. It has also been shown to aid the body in absorbing calcium – a crucial mineral for bone health – so try eating foods rich in vitamin K (such as carrots) along with calcium-rich foods to help increase your calcium absorption.


• Vitamin C
Carrots are a very good source of vitamin C, one of the most well known vitamins, which offers a wide array of benefits. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps to boost the immune system, protect against cancer, regulate blood sugar, protect your skin from free radical damage, and plays a part in the growth and repair of body tissue.


• Dietary Fiber
Carrots are a very good source of dietary fiber, which offers a wide variety of benefits, such as regulating blood sugar levels, helping to lower cholesterol and helping to protect against heart disease (for more information on the health benefits of fibre, click here).


• Potassium
This mineral should be an essential part of any active person’s diet, and carrots are a great source of potassium. Potassium helps muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces muscle cramps – it also plays a role in regulating blood pressure, water content in cells, digestion and in some metabolic processes.