My sister just ate a little bowl of carrots and we are wondering how they are good for you. Well, in exactly what way are carrots good for the human body?
Let me count the ways. No, I don’t have time. Besides having many phytochemicals, carrots are a good source of betacarotene, a precursor of vitamin A which, among other benefits, is necessary for good eye health. Yes, Virginia, carrots are good for the eyes. Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?
No, but in first grade the class had a pet rabbit that was either blind or stupid, because he would constantly run around in his cage and crash into stuff.
Carrots are full of fiber, a necessary but neglected substance in the human diet. They also have a low glycemic index, so won’t tend to spike the blood sugar after ingestion, which is a good thing.
QtM
Vitamin A is a crucial component of ‘vision purple.’ This compound plays a critical role in assisting night vision. Here is an excerpt from a vision site:
"In the retina, beneath the light sensitive rods and cones, there is a layer of colored compound called rhodopsin, or visual purple, that bleaches when light strikes it. This chemical reaction is responsible for the ability to see at night. Vitamin A is a crucial part of the rhodopsin compound.
As light strikes the visual purple, vitamin A is lost and must be replenished immediately by the circulatory system. If the mechanism is too slow or there is not enough vitamin A stored in the body, night vision diminishes. Dark leafy vegetables, carrots and liver are rich sources of this vitamin, as well as zinc and other elements the body uses to synthesize it."
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