CARROTS: protective, cholesterol lowering, nutritious, orange gems of the garden!

With its crunchy texture and many health benefits, it’s no wonder that carrots are at the top of the list of veggies recommended to enjoy regularly. Made up of more than 85% water, with minimal calories or fat, the carrot is everyone’s favorite go-to healthy snack. Whether it’s raw or cooked, shredded, roasted, or blended there’s room for carrots in everyone’s diet.

Carrots aren’t just delicious, they are packed with health benefits:

• Carrots have been found to lower cholesterol levels, as they contain high amounts of soluble fiber. Studies show that eating about a cup of carrots daily for as little as three weeks, can lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Carrots are rich in carotene, which has been shown to have a protective effect against certain types of cancer. This includes prostate, colon and stomach cancers. In fact, women with high circulating levels of carotenoids may also be at a reduced risk for breast cancer.
• Carrots have been found to play a role in protecting your vision, which can be compromised by vitamin A deficiency. The beta-carotene found in carrots is converted into vitamin A in the body.
• Carrots have been shown to help protect against cognitive decline associated with aging. The beta-carotene found in carrots has been shown to protect the central nervous system against aging. Studies show that men consuming 50 mg supplements of beta-carotene every other day had a 1 to 1.5-year delay in cognitive decay.

Carrots are a root vegetable and can be found in colorful varieties of yellow, white, orange, red and purple. Regardless of color, they are interchangeable and can serve as a snack on-on-the-go, shredded into a chicken burger, cooked and added to chicken soup, roasted as a side dish or even blended into a smoothie. While the above all sound simple, in today’s fast paced world not everyone has time to spare in the kitchen.

Next time you’re shopping the frozen food aisles grab a bag of Farmwise® Carrot Veggie Fries®. They’re packed with the wonderful benefits of this versatile veggie. Farmwise® Carrot Veggie Fries® is a perfect solution for busy parents with picky eaters – they are easy to make, provide valuable nutrition and are simply delicious to taste!

Marlo Mittler
Food Counselor, Nutritionist & Dietician
www.NutritionByMarlo.com