How great is the use of carrots for children?

Carrots are a nutrient-dense food that is very healthy, especially for young children. The use of carrots along with the delicious taste and eye-catching color of carrots stimulates the child's taste.

Carrots are rich in vitamin A , beta-carotene, have a natural sweet taste and have many other benefits, making it a great food for children. However, it is not easy for you to convince children to eat carrots regularly. To let children eat more carrots, you should prepare delicious carrot dishes for them to enjoy.

Nutritional composition of carrots

Carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables, easy to grow, and very healthy. Here are some reasons you should include carrots in your child's diet:

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient essential for healthy growth in children. In addition, this substance also plays an important role in building the immune system and may be anti-aging .

Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, very good for eyesight.

Carrots are rich in thiamin, niacin and vitamin B6 .

Carrots have fiber, which helps slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

Carrots are rich in manganese, vitamins C and K. Besides, fresh carrots are high in vitamin C and provide 9% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

Carrots are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, copper and phosphorus.

Research by Newcastle University shows that carrots contain high levels of falcarinol, an antioxidant that is effective against some types of cancer ¹ .

The use of carrots for children and adults

1. Carrots help brighten eyes

A report by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) shows that between 250,000 and 500,000 children with vitamin A deficiency are at risk of becoming blind each year. Vitamin A aids with eyesight and is found in carrots. Eating carrots every day can improve vision and prevent the risk of eye disorders, such as night blindness .

2. Carrots help prevent macular degeneration

The amount of beta-carotene helps reduce the risk of macular degeneration in children by up to 40%. In addition, vitamin A in carrots has antioxidant properties that help improve children's eyesight.

3. The use of carrots in helping to keep skin healthy

Beta-carotene in carrots helps to brighten the skin. In addition, the vitamin A and antioxidants in this vegetable protect the skin from sun damage. Lack of vitamin A makes hair, nails brittle and dry skin. A healthy diet containing carrots can also slow down aging because beta-carotene helps repair skin cells damaged by metabolism.

3. Carrots help promote digestion and prevent constipation

Carrots contain fiber to promote digestion. Besides, fiber also helps the intestines function well. So, eating carrots prevents constipation and other digestive disorders .

4. The use of carrots in treating diarrhea

Carrots help to cure diarrhea quickly and effectively. Eating carrot soup or drinking juice a few times a day can replace the lost water in the body.

5. Eating carrots helps to eliminate intestinal worms

Carrots help remove worms that thrive in the stomach from the child's intestines. You give your baby carrot soup or pureed carrot to help your baby cure digestive disorders caused by worms in the intestine.

6. Improving memory is one use of carrots

Carrots play an important role in cognitive development in children. Carrots contain a luteolin compound, which can prevent encephalitis and dementia.

7. Eating carrots helps to purify the body

Carrots are used as a snack, to help eliminate bad cholesterol or fat in the liver and waste products from the body. The fiber in carrots has the effect of cleansing and removing toxins from the large intestine.

8. Carrots help your child's teeth strong

Carrots help clean plaque from gums and teeth, eliminate bad breath after eating. The calcium and other minerals in carrots can fight bacteria and keep teeth healthy and clean.

Other uses of carrots

1. Carrots help prevent cancer

The falcarinol compounds, combined with beta-carotene in carrots, can help prevent various cancers including breast, throat, mouth, prostate, bladder and bowel cancers. Studies have shown that smokers or people exposed to tobacco who eat carrots 1-2 times / week are less likely to develop lung cancer than those who don't.

2. Carrots help reduce the risk of heart disease

Beta-carotene and alpha-carotene in carrots act as antioxidants to help regulate blood pressure more stable. A diet rich in carotenoids helps fight heart disease. In addition, carrots contribute to lowering LDL cholesterol, which is not good for the heart.

3. Carrots help prevent stroke

Carrots help reduce the risk of stroke. According to a study by Harvard University, USA, regular consumption of vegetables including carrots can reduce the risk of stroke.

Delicious dishes from carrots for children

When buying carrots, pay attention to choose bulbs that are not soft and do not have dark spots. If you feed your child carrots every day, they will easily lose their appetite. Here are some ways to prepare dishes with carrots to retain nutrients and stimulate children's appetite.

Boiled carrots: You only need to use one cup of water to boil 100g of carrots over low heat. In this way, the water evaporates and preserves the carrot's nutrition.

Steamed Carrots: Steamed carrots served with cheese will be an attractive snack for your baby.

Stir-fry dishes: Stir- fry carrots with 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil, season with salt and sprinkle a few stalks of parsley. This carrot dish is a great choice for the evening.

Baking: Shredded carrots, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt. Using a whisk, beat well, mix into a paste, put into a mold. Bake at 175 ° C for 40 - 50 minutes.

Carrot juice: You can make a smoothie or carrot juice with milk, apple, honey.

Baking: Make a grilled carrot in a nutritious baby meal. You can cut the carrots vertically, slicing them into thin slices. Then put them on the grill with a little olive oil spread. Bake at 200 ° C for 20 minutes. After half the baking time, you take out the grill, stir well and put in the oven again. This way you can enjoy roasted carrots in less than half an hour.

Above are the uses of carrots. Please refer to the article " 12 delicious dishes to practice for your baby to eat " to let your child enjoy many other nutritious and nutritious dishes!

aFamilyToday Health  does not offer medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.