This Carrots Page is from the Cretan Bowl Diet website that offers weight loss tips and slimming diet tips to help you lose weight easily and without hunger pangs.

Carrots either raw or cooked are simply delicious and add colour, taste and nutrition to any meal.

Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A.

Vitamin A assists with cell reproduction. It also stimulates immunity and is needed for formation of some hormones. Vitamin A helps vision and supports bone growth, tooth development, and helps maintain healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes.

Deficiency of Vitamin A can cause night blindness, dry skin, poor bone growth, and weak tooth enamel.

Carrots also contain Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is important in the production of energy and assists cells in converting carbohydrates into energy. It is also essential for the functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system. Shortage of thiamine can cause weakness and fatigue.

Vitamin C is an important vitamin in that it plays a significant role as an antioxidant, thereby protecting body tissue from the damage of oxidation. Antioxidants act to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body’s metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell damage that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Vitamin E is important as an antioxidant, thereby protecting body tissue from the damage of oxidation. It is important in the formation of red blood cells and the use of Vitamin K.

Carrots also contain Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorus and Potassium.

Calcium helps with sleep and eases insomnia and helps regulate the passage of nutrients through cell walls. Calcium is necessary for muscles contracting properly, blood-clotting functions and for nerves carry messages.

Insufficient calcium from foods mean the body automatically takes the calcium needed from bones. Deficiency may result in muscle spasms and cramps in the short term and osteoporosis longer term.

Iron deficiency can be a problem for infants, adolescent girls and pregnant women. Deficiency can also affect the immune system and cause weakness and fatigue.

Manganese functions in enzyme reactions concerning blood sugar, metabolism, and thyroid hormone function.

Phosphorus, in conjunction with calcium, is necessary for the formation of bones and teeth and of the nerve cells.

Phosphorus is second to calcium in abundance in the body.

Potassium is an essential mineral for the growth and maintenance of the body. It is needed to maintain a normal water balance between the cells and body fluids.

Potassium also plays an essential role in proper heart function.

Deficiency may cause muscular cramps, twitching and weakness, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, kidney and lung failure.



If you want to know more about the wonderful Greek island of Crete, home of the Cretan Diet and the Cretan Bowl Diet then visit my sister site of Completely Crete .Com

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