We are all aware that eating fruits and vegetables has a great benefit on our bodies and our health. But did you know that they can also be consumed in the form of a juice to have even greater effects on us? Carrot juice is not only extracted from whole fresh carrots but is also extremely nutritious in every way.
Not only does it provide potassium and vitamin C, which should not be lacking in our body, but it is also very rich in provitamin A.
Drinking carrot juice is believed to boost immunity and improve eye and skin health, as well as many other benefits.
Therefore, I will present to you today 4 impressive benefits of carrot juice.
1. Highly nutritious
Carrot juice is low in calories and carbs while packing numerous nutrients. One cup (240 mL) contains:
- Calories: 96
- Protein: 2 grams
- Fat: less than 1 gram
- Carbs: 22 grams
- Sugars: 9 grams
- Fibre: 2 grams
- Vitamin A (as provitamin A): 255% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin C: 23% of the DV
- Vitamin K: 31% of the DV
- Potassium: 15% of the DV
Carrot juice also provides the carotenoid pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which act as antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants fight unstable molecules called free radicals.
The main carotenoid in carrot juice is beta carotene, which is responsible for carrots’ orange colour. Your body converts it into the antioxidant vitamin A.
2. May improve skin health
The nutrients in carrot juice can be especially beneficial for your skin’s health.
A cup of carrot juice provides over 20% of DV for vitamin C, a water-soluble nutrient needed for collagen production. This compound is the most abundant fibrous protein in your body and provides elasticity and resistance to your skin.
In addition, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to protect your skin from free radical damage.
Beta-carotene in carrot juice can also help your skin. One study found that a carotenoid-rich diet can protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) damage and improve the appearance of your skin
3. May improve eye health
Carrot juice contains large amounts of nutrients that contribute greatly to the health of your eyes.
Specifically, 1 cup of carrot juice contains over 250% of DV for vitamin A, especially in the form of provitamin A carotenoids such as beta carotene.
Vitamin A is vital for eye health. Several studies link the consumption of provitamin A-containing fruits and vegetables with a lower risk of blindness and age-related eye disease.
So if you have vision problems, you can try drinking a cup of carrot juice and see the changes yourself.
In addition, carrot juice is an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two other carotenoids that accumulate in the eyes and protect them from harmful light.
A high dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce your risk of eye problems, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An analysis of 6 studies linked a high dietary intake of these compounds with a 26% lower risk of late AMD compared to a low intake.
4. It protects your life
Carotenoids in carrot liquid are thought to promote liver health. Therefore, protecting your body brings you a peaceful and healthy life, free from any danger.
Several studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of carotenoids protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
NAFLD occurs when fat builds up in the liver, usually due to a poor diet, being overweight or obese. Eventually, it can progress to liver scars and lasting damage.
An 8-week study in rats found that carrot liquid reduced some markers of NAFLD. Another study on rodents produced similar results, revealing that carrot juice did not reduce liver fat, but lowered inflammatory blood markers.
Thus, I recommend consuming carrot juice at least 2-3 times a week to give your body what it needs most and it will reward you with a quiet life.
