Eating carrots can lead to a healthy and long life, a conclusion supported by scientific research. Many people wonder, why do carrots make people live longer? For this question, the following is introduced to everyone.
Everyone knows that carotene is beneficial to health, and it is not only found in carrots but also in other vegetables and fruits. Moreover, the vitamin C content in carrots is quite modest, and the levels of potassium, magnesium, and calcium are not outstanding. Its antioxidant ability is average, 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?
Research has found that the concentration of alpha-carotene in human blood is negatively correlated with mortality from various causes of death. That is to say, the higher the concentration of alpha-carotene in the blood, the smaller the risk of people dying prematurely from various diseases, and the greater the hope for a healthy and long life.
Carrot Butterfly
Why is eating carrots better than other vegetables and fruits?
In fact, eating more vegetables and fruits can reduce cancer and heart disease and extend people's lifespan. This has been confirmed by countless studies and is not considered news. However, why do vegetables and fruits lead to a longer life? There are multiple health factors involved, but which ones are the most powerful? This question has not yet been clarified.
In the past, people had pinned their hopes on the high content of beta-carotene in vegetables and fruits. It was even extracted and made into capsules for long-term use by subjects, but it did not show effects in extending lifespan or preventing cancer and heart disease. However, another 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 for the subjects.
A large study conducted on 15,318 Americans found that those with the highest concentration of alpha-carotene in their blood (above 9 μg/dL) had a 39% lower risk of total death from all causes. 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. That is to say, even with an identical lifestyle, consuming more alpha-carotene means a greater hope of staying away from disease and death.