Eating carrots can lead to a long and healthy life, a conclusion supported by scientific research. Many people may wonder, why do carrots promote longevity? For this question, the following is an introduction for everyone.
Everyone knows that carotene is beneficial to health, besides being found in carrots, it is also present in other vegetables and fruits. Moreover, the vitamin C content in carrots is quite average, and the levels of potassium, magnesium, and calcium are not outstanding. Its antioxidant ability is mediocre, and its fiber content is not among the highest. Besides providing a large amount of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body, what other special benefits do carrots have?
Carrot and jelly pastry
Research has found that the concentration of alpha-carotene in human blood is negatively correlated with mortality from various causes of death. In other words, the higher the concentration of alpha-carotene in the blood, the smaller the risk of premature death from various diseases, and the greater the hope for a long and healthy life.
Why is eating carrots better than other vegetables and fruits?
In fact, it has been confirmed by countless studies that eating more vegetables and fruits can reduce cancer and heart disease and extend people's lifespan, which is not really news. However, why do vegetables and fruits lead to longevity? There are multiple health factors involved, but which one is the most powerful? This question has not yet been clarified.
In the past, people had high hopes for the beta-carotene, which is abundant in vegetables and fruits. It was even extracted and made into capsules for long-term use by subjects, but it did not show the effects of extending lifespan or preventing cancer and heart disease. However, another type of carotene has brought new hope. It was found that in in vitro experiments, its ability to inhibit tumor cells is 10 times that of beta-carotene, and it is very effective in preventing abnormal changes in DNA. As early as more than ten years ago, studies found that the higher the concentration of alpha-carotene in the blood, the lower the risk of heart disease in the subjects.
A large-scale study conducted on 15,318 Americans found that those with the highest blood alpha-carotene concentration (above 9 μg/dL) had a 39% lower risk of total death from all causes. Even after eliminating the influence of various other factors, researchers still found that alpha-carotene concentration was the most effective factor in reducing the risk of death. In other words, even with an identical lifestyle, consuming more alpha-carotene means a greater hope of staying away from disease and death.