Winter Vegetable: Benefits of Eating Carrots

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Benefits of Eating Carrots

    Carrots are one of the most used root vegetables in the world. They are easily grown and come in many colors such as: orange, yellow, red, purple and white. The taproot is part of the carrot mostly comsumed, however the greens are edible as well. Below are a list of benefits gained from including carrots in your daily intake.

• Regulates Cholesterol
• Researcher found in a study that cholesterol levels dropped over 10% when at least 7 ounces of carrots were eaten each day for 3 weeks. In Sweden, it was discovered that carrots can reduce chances of having a heart attack. 
• Eye Health
• Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which can help difficulty of reading at night and/or night blindness. Helps prevent machelor degeneration in the elderly.
•  Diabetes
• Due to the presence of cartenoids, carrots can help diabetics by lowering blood sugar, regulating the amount of insulin and glucose metabolized by the body. They are great substitutes to use for daily bowel movements and liver functionality. 
• Blood Pressure
• Carrots are rich sources of potassium, which is vasodilator that relaxes your blood vessels allowing for better circulation and blood flow. Potassium also aids boosting all organ functions thoughout your body.
• Immune System
• They are a rich source of vitamin C, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Vitamin C stimulates white blood cell activity in which strengthens the body's immune system.
• Digestion
• Like most root vegetables, carrots are loaded with fiber. Fiber helps stool pass smootly through the digestive tract. A healthy functioning digestive tract leads to weight loss, reduces chances of constipation and hemorroids. It also protects your colon and stomach from diseases which include cancer.
• Oral Health
• Carrots have beneficial antioxidant compounds and consuming them stimulates gums and produces excess salivia. Salvia's akaline properties are important to combat bacteria that otherwise would result in halitosis, cavities or other oral diseases. 
• Stroke
• Research has shown that eating a carrot a day reduces changes of stroke by 68%! Lutein is a cartonoid present in carrots and has been linked to brain health. A study at the University of Illinois, discovered that stroke patients with high beta-carotene levels also had the highest survival rates. 

Sources: Organicfacts.com, Healthline.com

The Benefits of Eating Squash

Benefits of Eating Squash

• Full of vitamin C, magnesium, and other antioxidant compounds

• It helps to neutralize free radicals throughout the body. Free radicals have been connected with a wide spread of illnesses, including cancer, heart diseases, and premature aging.

• Contains high levels of vitamin A, including carotenoid phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin. These help the body boost its immune response and defend against foreign substances

• Great source of B-complex vitamins which helps boost metabolism,. Certain types of squash contain good amounts of dietary fiber and pectin. Pectin regulates blood sugar  throughout the body, making sure that the insulin and glucose activities within the body remain constant and smooth. 

• Due to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene,and polysaccharides called homogalacturonan squash gives out anti-inflammatory properties to help heal the body. Anti-inflammatory effects can extend to arthritis and gout. Studies on squash have linked it to reducing gastric and duodenal ulcer reduction, and general anti-inflammation of the cardiovascular system. Inflammation in the body is closely linked to type-2 diabetes.

• The seeds of squash can also be eaten or chewed to get a number of health benefits. These seeds have been directly connected to antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic activity within the body, protecting us from a wide variety of diseases, including tapeworms and other intestinal parasites.

• Having magnesium and potassium present in squash forms a very effective defense line against cardiovascular issues. Potassium is a vasodilator, which means that it relaxes the tension of blood vessels and arteries, thereby increasing blood flow, oxygenation and reducing the stress on the heart. The fiber found in squash is very good at scraping excess cholesterol from the walls of arteries, thereby reducing the chances of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. The high levels of folate in squash neutralize harmful levels of homocysteine that builds up in the body. Homocysteine has been linked to increased chances of developing cardiovascular diseases

• High levels of essential vitamins found in squash is very important part of developing bone matter and bone mineral density. Squash is a valuable source of calcium, manganese, zing and other very important trace elements. This helps reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis as you age and ensure the strength and durability of your bones.