Carrot, which we know especially for its benefits for eye health, is a plant that falls into the vegetable category. The most consumed type of carrot in our country is the orange carrot, which has varieties such as orange, white, purple and black. It does not lose its vitamin value if eaten without cooking and peeled. Here is our rich article explaining the properties and benefits of carrots… Carrot is a vegetable known by many different names in different regions of Anatolia. Honey reed, bride’s finger, sinking into the ground are a few of these names. Many species grow in New Zealand, Australia, Africa and around the Mediterranean. Carrot is a vegetable grown in many regions of our country. Although there are around 60 types of carrots, the most consumed types are around 5-6. Carrots and their varieties are known to be very rich in vitamins. It is known to everyone that carrots are rich in vitamin A. It is also famous for being one of the first vegetables that come to mind when beta carotene is mentioned. Thanks to the vitamins and beneficial substances it contains, carrots are a miraculous vegetable for many diseases. It is also known that carrots have a positive effect on skin and eye health. To benefit from the benefits of carrots, you can consume them directly raw or by squeezing the juice, adding them to salads, or using them in meals.
What is Carrot?
Daucus carrot In other words, carrot is a vegetable from the Apiaceae family. Although it is consumed as a fruit, it is referred to as a vegetable in the literature . Its stems are not used and it is grown for its cone-shaped, fl eshy root part. Carrot is known as a biennial herbaceous crop plant. The most well-known type of carrot is the orange one.
What are the Characteristics of Carrot?
Carrot roots are a type of plant consumed as a vegetable. The roots of carrot, which is a two-year-old plant, can go down to a depth of 1 meter in suitable soils. Ripe carrots are removed from the soil and cleaned. The process of removing carrots from the soil is done in the autumn months. Carrots are known for being rich in vitamins. 87% of carrots consist of water. It is known that carrots, which are rich in vitamin A , contain up to 6 mg of carotene per 100 grams. Apart from this, vitamins B1 and B2 are also among the vitamins contained in carrots. Apart from vitamins, minerals such as calcium and iron are also contained in carrots. Although purple and black carrots are mostly produced in our country, orange carrots are the most preferred in terms of consumption. 35% to 40% of carrots in Turkey are grown in Beypazarı district of Ankara . Ankara is followed by Konya, Antalya, Hatay, Mersin, Izmir and Southern Marmara.
What are the Carrot Varieties?
Among the many varieties of carrots, six in particular are well-known species. Orange, red, yellow, white, purple and black carrots are among the most useful types. Orange carrots are mostly grown around Europe and the Middle East. The homeland of red carrots is India and China. The Middle East ranks fi rst in the cultivation of yellow carrots. Unlike others, white carrots grow in the regions of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The most grown types in the Far and Middle Eastern countries and Turkey are purple and black carrots. Black carrots are used in making turnip juice, which is famous in our country, especially in the Adana region.
What are the benefits of carrots?
It is thought to play a very important role in preventing cancer thanks to the beta carotene it contains. Research has shown that it is especially protective against prostate cancer . Another study showed that among smokers,
those who ate carrots a lot were less likely to get cancer than those who did not. It is known that carrots are effective in the destruction of substances that cause lung cancer . Apart from the carrot itself, its extract has also been shown to be effective on leukemia cells. Another known benefi t of carrots is that they are good for fungal diseases. It is known that vitamin A has an eff ect on eye and skin health . Therefore, while carrots, rich in vitamin A, protect the eyes against eye diseases, they also cleanse the skin and keep it healthy with its antioxidant eff ect. You can consume plenty of carrots to prevent diseases caused by vitamin defi ciency in hair and nails, or you can apply it to the skin as a carrot mask. You can even consume carrots just to cleanse the body of toxins. Apart from these benefits, carrots are a useful vegetable against heart diseases, brain health, repair of cells, regular functioning of the intestines and gum diseases.
How to Consume Carrots?
To get the benefits of carrots, the healthiest way is to consume them raw or in salads. There is an increase in the sugar level in cooked carrots. Likewise, fructose is released when the juice is squeezed. If it cannot be eaten raw, another priority should be to consume it as pickles. The nutritional values of carrots cooked by
