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Most people know that carrots are good for your eyes but you may not know why. Carrots are loaded with healthy vitamin A benefits that are good for vision and a whole lot more.
This vitamin – which is actually a group of fat-soluble compounds – is essential for many processes in your body according to Healthline. Men needs 900 mcg, women 700 mcg, and kids need 300 -600 mcg a day. But it's easy to achieve that amount just from the foods you eat.
Vitamin A compounds are found in both plants, as provitamin A carotenoids and as Preformed vitamin A – which contains retinol – from animal products like meat, poultry, fish, and cheese or other dairy products. So eat your fill of this essential micronutrient and enjoy these five health benefits.
May Protect Your Eyesight
Here’s where the carrots, and the beta-carotene they contain, come in. Vitamin A is absolutely essential for preserving your eyesight when you age. In fact, a deficiency of this essential vitamin can lead to night blindness. Eating foods high in beta-carotene can help to slow the decline in vision due to aging and to help prevent age-related macular degeneration which is a leading cause of loss of vision globally.
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Could Boost Your Immunity
Your body needs an adequate intake of Vitamin A for your immune system to function normally. That’s because the vitamin contains infection-fighting carotenoids, according to Cleveland Health Clinic. The foods that contain Vitamin A are bright orange like sweet potatoes, acorn squash, carrots, pumpkin, and cantaloupe, or dark green like leafy vegetables.
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Promotes Healthier Skin
Retinol promotes healthy skin. That’s because it exfoliates the skin and encourages skin cell replacement. And as an added bonus, this vitamin also stimulates the synthesis of collagen according to Medicinenet. This could help smooth your skin and give it a healthy appearance. That’s why it is the active ingredient in many skin care products.
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Could Lower Cancer Risk
Cancer consists of the growth of abnormal cells, states Healthline. However, since vitamin A plays an important role in the development and growth of cells, it may positively aid in preventing cancer. A study showed that the vitamin found in plants plays a crucial role in regulating the growth of new cells. While the study showed that the vitamin will not help cure cancer, it can be effective for prevention.
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Supports Bone Health
While the key nutrients for healthy bones are calcium, vitamin D, and protein; vitamin A also plays an essential role in bone growth and development. It’s one of those ‘cradle to grave’ vitamins that begins with a healthy pregnancy and continues while you age. A 2017 meta-analysis of studies evaluated the influence of vitamin A in totality and the risk of hip fractures, found that people with lower levels of the vitamin are at higher risk for fractures
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