By Asmau Ahmad
Miss Yemisi Olowookere, a nutritionist with Garki Hospital, Abuja on Thursday urged Nigerians to cultivate the habits of consuming carrots as it could reduce cholesterol and prevent heart attacks. Olowookere told the newsmen in Abuja, that carrot also helped in warding off certain cancers, improve vision and reduce the signs of premature aging.
“Carrots are very useful in diseases of the retina and of the eyes in general, skin disorders, gastritis, excess of gastric acid, and in prevention of cancer.
“Carrots have the ability to increase the health of your skin, boost the immune system, improve digestion, increase cardiovascular health and detoxify the body.
“It also helps boost oral health in a variety of ways and provides a well-rounded influx of vitamins and minerals,’’ she said.
Olowookere said that carrots helped to regulate the transit of stool and soothed the intestinal mucosa. She said that carrots contained essential oil active against intestinal parasites.
“Carrot is an antioxidant betacarotene that gives carrots their bright orange color.
“Beta-carotene is absorbed in the intestine and converted into Vitamin A during digestion.
“Carrots also contain fiber, Vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, Vitamin E and zinc.
“Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A, providing 210 per cent of the average adult’s needs for the day,” Olowookere said.
She said that a carrot would provide six per cent of Vitamin C needs, two per cent of calcium needs and two per cent of iron needs per serving. Olowookere said that carrots was one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the world, partly because they grew relatively easily, and were very versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines.
