The list of health benefits of carrot juice is big. It helps your body from top to bottom and from internal organs to your skin. Eat it raw, drink juice or cook it, it is one of the healthiest vegetables.
After the potatoes, carrots are one of the most widely used vegetables around the globe. Scientifically called Daucus carota, this root vegetable is relatively easy to grow. It is generally Orange in colour but its purple, white, yellow and red varieties are also selectively available in different parts of the world.
Although the roots are most popular in use, its leaves are also used as salad.
Carrot juice is a concentrated power house of all the nutrients of carrots. Drinking a glass of carrot juice daily offers multiple health benefits. In a month you will begin to feel the benefits. Your health will significantly improve from whatever level it is today.
Nutritional Constituents of Carrot Juice
Some of the prominent nutrients as specified by the UDSA are as under.
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 173 kJ (41 kcal)
Carbohydrates 9.6 g
Sugars 4.7 g
Dietary fiber 2.8 g
Fat 0.24 g
Protein 0.93 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
beta-carotene (104%) 835 μg
lutein (77%) 8285 μg
zeaxanthin 256 μg
Thiamine (B1) (6%) 0.066 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (5%) 0.058 mg
Niacin (B3) (7%) 0.983 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (5%) 0.273 mg
Vitamin B6 (11%) 0.138 mg
Folate (B9) (5%) 19 μg
Vitamin C (7%) 5.9 mg
Vitamin E (4%) 0.66 mg
Vitamin K (13%) 13.2 μg
Minerals
Calcium (3%) 33 mg
Iron (2%) 0.3 mg
Magnesium (3%) 12 mg
Manganese (7%) 0.143 mg
Phosphorus (5%) 35 mg
Potassium (7%) 320 mg
Sodium (5%) 69 mg
Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg
Other constituents
Fluoride 3.2 µg
Water 88 g
Carrots are rich in antioxidants. Depending on the colour of the carrot, the following antioxidants may vary in their percentages but they all will be there in every carrot.
Carotenoids
- alpha-carotene
- beta-carotene
- lutein
Hydroxycinnamic acids
- caffeic acid
- coumaric acid
- ferulic acid
Anthocyanins
- cyanidins
- malvidins
Main Health Benefits of Carrot Juice
Carrot juice offers many benefits for you to stay healthy. Some specific health benefits are described as under:
1. Protects Against Cancer
Various studies have suggested that the antioxidants carotenoids from carrots another fruits can protect against widespread types of cancers.
- Leukaemia - In a 2011 study carrot juice extract was shown to kill leukaemia cells and retard their progression. This is significant as the survival possibilities increase.
- Prostate Cancer - In a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health Department of Nutrition it was found that a diet rich in beta carotene plays a protective role against prostate cancer in young men.
- Colon Cancer - In a Japanese study, it was found that consumption of Beta carotene rich foods stops the development of colon cancer.
- Lung Cancer - In a study it was found that the smokers who do not eat carrots have almost 3 times more risk of developing lung cancer then those who eat carrots or consume carrot juice.
2. Improves Vision
3. Slows Down Aging Process
High levels of antioxidants such as beta carotene have to protect cells from oxidation damages.
It protects your skin from all kinds of infections and even helps in wound healing fast.
All this in turn slows down the aging process. You look and feel younger.
4. Decreases Risk of Stroke and Other Heart Diseases
Carrot juice reduces oxidative stresses due presence of antioxidants reducing risks of developing cardiovascular diseases. It lowers cholesterol as a result blood flow improves.
This keeps your heart healthy, helps in maintaining blood pressure under control and lowers the risks of stroke.
5. Improves Cognitive Functions
Carrot Juice improves your memory due to high antioxidant capabilities. Since it also slows down the aging process, the combined effect prevents early onset of Alzheimer's.
6. Maintains Good Oral Health
Carrot juice helps to maintain your good oral health in more than one way. The antioxidants and other nutrients improve your immunity to fight with bacteria and other toxins that may invade your teeth and gums. Some of them reside in the mouth and multiply when the immunity goes down.
This boosted immunity prevents cavities and tooth decay.
7. Improves Digestion
Carrots are rich in dietary fiber which adds bulk to the stool. Although some of the fiber is lost in juice making, the carrot juice still has enough fiber to give positive impact on digestion.
The antioxidants also play a role in improving digestion which helps to reduce constipation. Such digestive benefits help in lowering the risks of colon cancer.
Consequences of Carrot Juice Overdose
Now you may think that if carrot is so nutritional then why restrict to one glass of Carrot Juice per day, why not have more?
The question is very logical if the answer is simple it appears complicated.
Carrots are low calorie food so there should be no problem. That is fine.
Overdose of any nutrients such as vitamins will be expelled by the body so that it does not cause any damage. That is also fine to some extent. However, there is one element in carrots that creates a barrier. It is the sugar content of the carrot juice that can cause damage. You increase your risk of diabetes and being overweight. So stick to one glass a day. Occasional overdose should be ok.
You need to consider 1 more element before you decide to stay with one glass of Carrot Juice per day or consume more.
A condition called carota is developed by the over consumption of Beta carotene rich foods such as carrots. Your skin gets Yellow or Orange cast. Are there any ill effects of this discoloration? Not much research has been done on this but once you reduce the consumption of carrot juice skin colour gradually comes back to normal.
So, now you know the lyrics don't let yellow orange due to over consumption of carrot juice.