Do you need prescription medication? Ask Your Dr for confidential and convenient access to certain medications. Enter your postcode to find your nearest pharmacy that can help.Nutrition file: Carrots
Everyone knows carrots are good for you. Even back during World War II, the Ministry of Food created a cartoon character called Dr Carrot to raise awareness about eating healthily during rationing. But why are carrots such a healthy food? Here are a few facts to crunch on…
1. Carrots are full of a nutrient called beta-carotene. This is an antioxidant called a carotenoid that's converted into vitamin A in the body. Of all fruits and vegetables, carrots are the best source of beta-carotene – an 80g serving contains more than twice the recommended daily amount needed by adults.
2. Vitamin A, which comes from beta-carotene, is essential for the proper functioning of your immune system, and keeps the skin and cells that line the airways, digestive tract and urinary tract healthy.
3. There may also be some truth in the old wives' tale that eating carrots helps you see in the dark, as beta-carotene helps to protect vision (especially night vision). That's because, once converted into vitamin A, it is then converted into a vision-boosting pigment in the retina, called rhodopsin.
4. If you want your body to absorb a higher level of carotenoids from raw carrots, add a tiny drizzle of full-fat dressing to your salad, as research shows more carotenoids are absorbed when eaten with fat than without.
For more facts about carrots, including lots of ideas on how to serve them, visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk
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