Known for its properties to enhance vision, carrots are not just tasty but healthy too. This excellent winter vegetable is a very popular ingredient to some of the most flavourful dishes like carrot Halwa, vegetable to eat with chapatis, cake, pudding, pickles, juice, salads and a lot more. Do you know which, amongst these recipes is the healthiest? Being so nutritious, here are some of the ways in which you can use carrots, to get the most from it. But before that, let us have a look at the nutrients that we get from carrots.
Nutrients found in carrots
Carrot is loaded with beta-carotene, fiber, anti-oxidant, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iodine and sodium. All these are very important and beneficial for our health and enhance various functions of our body.
Benefits of Carrot Halwa
This mouthwatering Indian sweet dish is very popular during winters in almost every Indian household. Along with its delish sweet taste, it also excels in providing nourishment to the body. Various researches have shown that the amount of phenolic acid and beta carotene found in carrots significantly increases after cooking. On the other hand, if carrots are cooked with milk or ghee, fat containing ingredients in halwa, the amount of "carotenoids" in it also increases. This way, our body gets complete nutrients present in carrot, which is why carrot halwa is considered to be highly nutritious.
Benefits of Carrot Juice
Consumption of carrot juice increases the level of hemoglobin in our body and is also helpful in reducing abdominal fat. Being rich in fiber, carrots help in enhancing the digestive powers of the body. Along with this, Beta carotene is found in plenty in it which is helpful in reducing stress. Vitamin A present in carrots not only benefits the eyesight, but drinking 1 glass of carrot juice daily helps in improving skin texture as well. Carotenoid found in carrots is considered good for heart patients and its daily consumption can also reduce the levels of cholesterol.
Benefits of Carrot Marmalade (Murabba)
Carrot marmalade is also given as a medicine in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine systems. It is considered as the superfood that alleviates weakness, weakness, fatigue and mental stress. Here are some more of its benefits:
- Carrot murabba is believed to reduce the risk of diseases like cancer because it contains anti-cancer components that kill cancer cells.
- Carotenoids are found in plenty in carrot marmalade, therefore it reduces the risk of heart disease. Carrots are a rich source of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lutein.
- Its consumption slows down the aging process and makes the skin spotless. The high levels of beta-carotene found in carrots, act as antioxidants for cellular damage done by the body through means of metabolism.
- Carrots are also considered best for eye health. Even in Ayurveda and Unani medicine, carrot marmalade is given as a medicine to enhance eyesight. It contains beta-carotene, which, while reaching the liver gets converted into vitamin A. Further, vitamin A is converted into rhodopsin, which is important for night vision. Carrots also protect from cataracts.
- Dental health is also maintained by consuming carrot murabba. Carrot jam combines with saliva to make acid and balances the cavity-forming bacteria.
Carrot Face Pack
Not just consumptions, but external application of carrot is also beneficial. Face packs made out of carrots can give you a clean, glowing and beautiful skin. Different face packs can be made by mixing papaya, egg, cream, milk powder or cinnamon in carrot juice or paste according to skin type.
