8 Benefits of Carrot Juice:
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber. But you don’t have to eat carrots to receive these nutritional benefits. Drinking carrot juice is an easy way to add carrots to your diet. Here are eight reasons why you should add carrot juice to your diet.
8 Benefits of Carrot Juice
- Increased metabolism Since carrot juice is filling and low in calories, substituting this juice and ditching sodas and other sugary beverages can help you drop pounds faster. Carrot juice also increases bile secretion, which can increase metabolism — the rate at which your body converts energy into food. Bile is a fluid that breaks down fat. According to a study from 2006, an increase in bile flow revved up the metabolism and increased weight loss in lab rats. It could produce a similar outcome in humans.
- Stronger vision It’s often said that eating carrots is good for your eyes. It turns out there’s truth behind this claim. Carrot juice is a good source of beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants. Vitamin A helps protect the surface of the eye and contributes to strong vision. Drinking carrot juice can ward off various eye disorders, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and blindness. Carrots also contain lutein, which is an antioxidant that protects the eye from damaging light. A 1994 study found that lutein was linked to a reduced risk for macular degeneration, an eye disorder that causes vision loss.
- Improved skin disorders If you have a history of skin problems, such as rashes or psoriasis, adding carrot juice to your diet may improve the appearance of your skin. Carrots contain vitamin C, which has healing properties. It helps skin recover faster from external wounds and trauma. Beta-carotene in carrots also reduces skin inflammation, which speeds up the healing process.
- Boosted immune system A cold or the flu can stick around for one or two weeks, making it difficult (or impossible) to go to work or school. To strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off infections, add carrot juice to your daily diet and maintain your physical health. Carrots contain antioxidants, which help your body fight free radicals, cell damage, and inflammation. Vitamin C in carrot juice also provides an immune system boost, helping you get through cold and flu season.
- Reduced cancer risk Cancer develops when abnormal cells form and multiply uncontrollably. Since antioxidants help stop cell damage, carrot juice may offer protection against various types of cancers. In one study, carrot juice extract used for 72 hours in the treatment of leukemia cells and non-tumor control cells induced cell death and stopped the progression of the disease. This suggests that carrots may contain effective bioactive chemicals for treating leukemia. Another study of younger men found that a diet rich in beta-carotene may offer protection against prostate cancer. CHOLESTEROL
- Lowered cholesterol If you’re having trouble controlling your cholesterol, or if you want to control your cholesterol without medication, consider adding carrot juice to your diet. As an excellent source of potassium, carrot juice can help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Lower cholesterol levels reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor before stopping any prescription medications.
- Healthier pregnancy Drinking carrot juice is also beneficial during and after pregnancy because it’s full of calcium, folate, potassium, magnesium, and of course vitamin A. Calcium helps your fetus develop strong bones and cartilage, while folate prevents birth defects. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), pregnant and breastfeeding women need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. Vitamin C and vitamin A in carrot juice also act as powerful antioxidants in pregnancy. These vitamins protect both mother and fetus from free radicals and give both an immune system boost that lowers the risk of infections.
- Strengthened brain function Beta-carotene in carrot juice may also improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of age-related memory problems and dementia. Oxidative stress is linked to brain cell damage and occurs when brain and nerve cells can’t regenerate. This weakens nerve signaling and reduces cognitive function. However, beta-carotene in carrots may strengthen brain function and improve memory. In one study, workers who were exposed to lead were treated with 10 milligrams of beta-carotene over a 12-week period. The study found that after treatment, the group receiving beta-carotene had less oxidative stress. Potential side effects of carrot juice While carrot juice has nutritional and health benefits, it’s important to drink in moderation. Fruit or vegetable juices contain little to no fiber, therefore they provide limited satiety and no bulk to the colon. Also, excessive intake of beta-carotene can change your skin’s coloring. It’s this vitamin that gives the carrot its orange color. If you eat or drink too many carrots or carrot juice, your skin may temporarily develop a slight yellowish or orange tint. The takeaway The benefits of carrots can’t be overstated. If you prefer to cook or eat raw carrots, you’ll benefit from more satiety from the fiber, which is ideal for weight management. But juicing your carrots may provide a bigger nutritional punch, plus it’s easier to absorb nutrients and antioxidants from the juice. According to Stanford Health Care, producing one cup of carrot juice takes about five carrots. From boosting your immune system to helping you hit your weight-loss goals, carrot juice can improve your physical and mental health.
