Belonging to the family Apiaceae and genus Daucus, Carrot is scientifically known as Daucus carota. Carrot is a horn-shaped root popularly eaten as a vegetable and is either purple, white, red, orange or yellow in color. Europe and Asia are the native homes of this vegetable. A biennial plant, carrot's most edible part is its less woody and greatly enlarged tap root. These come in many sizes are can be grouped into two main classes – the western carrots and the eastern carrots. A carrot plant shows a flowered stem with an umbel of white flowers and the fruit they produce is called the schizocarp. Caroot gets its patent red or the yellow color because of the presence of beta-carotene in its pigments. The purple pigment is mainly due to the anthocyanin pigments present in the carrot.

Nutritional Analysis :

Carrots are a storehouse of vitamins, which include Vitamin A, -beta – carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. Furthermore, the presence of minerals like sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and calcium make it a nutrient rich vegetable. Some other elements that form a part of carrot's nutrient family includes zinc, copper, fluoride, selenium, folate and Vitamin E scientifically addressed as Alpha Tocopherol and Vitamin K.

Health Benefits :

100gms of carrot is seen to provide complete nutrition to the body as per the studies as it is a source of a host of nutrients mentioned above. It is a highly recommended vegetable to render proper functioning of organs like the spleen and the stomach. It is widely used for the treatment of night blindness, long term cough, gastritis, cold and sexual dysfunction. Many studies have declared that constant diet of carrots can reduce the risk of heart diseases and even cancer to a great extent. Potash Succinate is a nutrient found in carrot, having anti-hypertensive drug properties and is extremely beneficial for people, suffering from high blood pressure. When consumed in the form of juice, carrot juice is seen to render great amount of energy to the body along with its antiseptic properties. Beta-carotene found in carrots is known to be highly beneficial for healthy eye-sight, skin, hair as well as the bones. It also helps to combat diabetes.

Preparations :

Carrots can be eaten raw or cooked by steaming and frying. Carrot juice or carrot juice powder is also available for consumption as per one's needs.

References :

‘Fruit Types'. Northernontarioflora.ca .

Mikkelson, Barbara & David P. "Carrots" at Snopes : Urban Legends Reference Pages .

Kruszelnicki, K. S.. "Carrots & Night Vision" . Great Moments in Science . ABC .