The Advantages of Eating Baby Carrots
Recent research shows that eating baby carrots as a snack improve your health. This small change to your diet, particularly for young adults, can increase levels of skin carotenoids, important plant pigments tied to various health benefits.
Conducted by Samford University, the research found that eating baby carrots three times per week significantly raised skin carotenoids in young adults. Skin carotenoids are used as markers for fruit and vegetable intake since the body cannot make them. They must come from meals.
Mary Harper Simmons, a Master of Science in Nutrition student at Samford University, led the study. She said that high levels of carotenoids are linked with increased antioxidant activity, less inflammation, and lowered risk for chronic illnesses like heart disease.
Detailed Study Information
This study involved 60 young adults assigned into different dietary groups over four weeks. The groups were,
- Eating Granny Smith apples (used as a control group)
- Eating half a cup (around 100 grams) of baby carrots
- Taking a multivitamin supplements containing beta carotene
- Eating baby carrots and taking the multivitamin supplement
The results showed a 10.8% increase in skin carotenoid scores for those who ate baby carrots and 21.6% increase for those who ate baby carrots with the multivitamin supplement. Notably, no considerable changes were observed in the group that only took beta carotene supplements.
Carotenoids Importance in Health
Carotenoids give bright red, orange and yellow hues to many fruits and vegetables. They are vital for our health, providing antioxidant protection and reducing the risk of conditions like heart disease and some types of cancer.
Simmons shared that prior studies pointed out that by eating triple the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables for three weeks could boost skin carotenoid levels. However, according to this study, even a minor adjustment in diet like snacking on baby carrots can be highly beneficial.
The Next Steps Moving Forward
Researchers are eager to examine the reason why only taking multivitamin supplements doesn’t raise carotenoid levels significantly. They also intend to research the effects of other foods rich in carotenoids such as sweet potatoes and green leafy vegetables on skin carotenoid levels.
The results will be presented at NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition taking place in Chicago from June 29 to July 2. The event brings together top researchers in nutrition, medical professionals, policy makers and leaders in industry to discuss the latest findings in nutritional science.
Views From The Experts
Dietician Ilana Muhlstein based in Los Angeles mentioned that carrots are a prime source of beta carotene which is needed for immune function, vision health and it turns into vitamin A. Alyssa Burnison who’s also a dietician from Sioux Falls , South Dakota reaffirmed this point emphatically clarifying explicitly that beta carotene is converted into vitamin A which boosts immunity & ensures healthy eyesight.
A Summing Up
This study highlights how incorporating small changes to one’s diet can see considerable health improvement. Eating baby carrots as a snack thrice weekly boosts skin carotenoid levels providing stronger antioxidant protection & decreasing risks related with chronic diseases.
Although further research aims to explore in depth how the body absorbs carotenoids from meals compared to supplements and will also look at the benefits other carotenoids rich foods offer.
About The American Society for Nutrition
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN), started in 1928, is a leading organisation for scientists and clinicians around the world who are involved in nutrition research. The ASN produces four peer reviewed journals and offers education and professional development opportunities to further nutritional research, practice, and education.
For additional details, visit nutrition.org.
