How many calories in a carrot : A few people consider carrots a ultimate health food, while generations of parents have told their youngsters that eating carrots will help them see in the dark. Is this true? What different benefits may carrots have? Here is all about calories in a carrot, nutrition facts and health benefits.
People probably first developed the carrot a huge number of years ago, in the zone that is presently Afghanistan. The original small, forked, purple or yellow root had a bitter, woody flavor and was very unique in relation to the carrot that we know today.
Farmers grew purple, red, yellow, and white carrots well before the presence of the sweet, crunchy, and aromatic orange that is is now popular. Dutch cultivators may have developed this type in the sixteenth century.
In this article, get familiar with the nutrients in carrots and their health benefits. We additionally investigate tips for adding carrots to the diet and any safety measures to take. Furthermore, obviously, the deep rooted question: Do they truly help you see in the dark?
Carrot Nutrition Facts
Carrots are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are also a decent source of cancer prevention agents.
Antioxidants are nutrients present in plant-based foods. They help the body remove free radicals, unstable molecules that can cause cell harm if too many accumulate in the body.
Free radicals result from natural cycles and environmental pressures. The body can kill many free radicals naturally, however dietary cancer prevention agents can help, particularly when the oxidant load is high.
The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for 1 medium raw carrot:
- Calories: 25
- Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 42mg
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1.7g
- Sugars: 2.9g
- Protein: 0.6g
Carbs
A cup (128g) of chopped raw carrots has 12.3 grams of carbohydrates, with 3.6 grams from fiber and 6.1 grams coming from common sugars. The glycemic index for boiled carrots is low, going from 35–43.
Vitamins and Minerals
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A and specifically beta carotene which is responsible for their orange color. Carrots also offer potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
Protein
Carrots are not especially high in protein. A cup of carrots has quite recently 1.2 grams of protein.
Fats
Carrots have insignificant amounts of fat (almost 0g for one medium carrot and only 0.3g for a cup of chopped carrot), most of which is polyunsaturated.
When It’s Best
Carrots can be found whenever of the year because of their long shelf life. In fact, collected carrots can keep going for 4–6 months when put away in the right conditions. Find carrots in the supermarket or your nearby market. Search for fresh carrots that are firm, and dry, without major blemishes or signs of decay (like limpness or sliminess).
Health Benefits
Carrots have many health benefits that provides you decent amount of fiber, vitamins and protein:
Protects Eyesight
Carrots are a fantastic source of vitamin A, including the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Because these compounds tend to accumulate in the retina, they are especially useful in preventing age-related macular degeneration, a typical reason for vision loss. Regular consumption of carrots and other orange vegetables is a good way to protect your eyes against the impacts of aging and environmental damage.
Improves Dental Health
A study evaluating the rate of tooth-loss in an elderly Japanese populace with cognitive impairment found that higher intakes of beta carotene through carrots and different vegetables, for example, pickled green leafy greens, raw lettuce/cabbage, green leafy vegetables, squash, and Chinese cabbage indicated a a protective effect against dental issues.
Bone Health
Carrots contain vitamin K and small quantities of calcium and phosphorus. All of These contribute to bone health and may help prevent osteoporosis. A balanced diet can help keep the bones healthy.
Control Diabetes
Carrots have a sweet flavor and contain natural sugars. I don’t get this’ meaning for people with diabetes?
Carbohydrates make up around 10% of a carrot, and almost 50% of this is sugar. Another 30% of this carbohydrate content is fiber. A medium carrot gives 25 calories.
Generally speaking, this makes a carrot a low-calorie, high-fiber food that is moderately low in sugar. Thus, it scores low on the glycemic index (GI). This index can help people with diabetes comprehend which foods are probably going to raise their blood sugar levels.
Boiled carrots have a GI score of around 39. This means that they are probably not going to trigger a glucose spike and are ok for people with diabetes to eat.