Vitamin A is healthy in many ways. First, it helps the body to create skin and keep it healthy, and the body needs it for healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and even eye health.
The thing is that there is more than one type of vitamin A. According to Medline Plus, two different types of vitamin A can be found in foods. The first is preformed vitamin A, which can be found in animal products, and the second is called pro-vitamin A, found in fruits and vegetables.
Carrots are a great source of pro-vitamin A. So go ahead, eat up.
- They’re great for your heart.
If you want a healthy ticker, you may want to make carrots part of your diet.
According to the George Mateljan Foundation, one such study analyzed fruits and vegetables by color. The decade-long project, conducted in the Netherlands, divided fruits and veggies into four categories: orange/yellow, green, red/purple and white. Interestingly, the foods with the orange/yellow colors (especially those with dark orange and yellow colors) showed the most benefit in the way of preventing heart disease.
Carrots were shown to have heroic qualities in that they “were determined to be the most prominent member of this dark orange/yellow food category.” Those who consumed fewer carrots were shown to have the least protection against heart disease. But those who consumed 25 grams or more of carrots had a reduced risk of heart disease.
Remember this when you’re planning your heart-healthy regimen. Carrots and a healthy heart go hand in hand.