CARROTS AND YOU ....... HEALTH TIPZ

Carrots are often thought of as the ultimate health food. You were probably told to eat your carrots by your loved ones and you probably tell your kids the same
thing, and when asked why, you explain, "Because they're good for you!"

But how did the carrot get such a good reputation and why exactly are the root vegetables so good for our health?
It is believed that the carrot was first cultivated in the area now known as Afghanistan thousands of years ago as a small forked purple or yellow root with a woody and bitter flavor, resembling nothing of the carrot we know today.¹
Purple, red, yellow and white carrots were cultivated long before the appearance of the now popular orange carrot, which was developed and stabilized by Dutch growers in the 16th and 17th centuries.1
The modern day carrot has been bred to be sweet, crunchy and aromatic.
Possible health benefits of carrotsAn overwhelming body of evidence exists suggesting that increased intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables reduce
^{cancer and cardiovascular disease risks, carrots included.} CancerA variety of dietary carotenoids have been shown to have anti-cancer effects due to their
^{antioxidant power in reducing free radicals in the body.}Lung CancerOne study found that current smokers who did not consume carrots had three times the risk of developing
^{lung cancer compared with those who ate carrots more than once a week.2}Colorectal Cancer
^{Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population.3}Other possible benefits of carrotsThe antioxidants and phytochemicals in carrots may also help with blood sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging, and improve immune function.