A carrot is a Eurasian biennial plant that is cultivated worldwide because of its edible taproot. This root crop is considered a vegetable and is described as elongated, fleshy and orange-colored.

Different Types of Carrots

Most people only know one type of carrot. However, there are actually many types. Here are a few that you are probably not familiar with.

Adelaide carrot – Cylindrical, smooth-skinned and very deep orange in color.
Berlikum carrot – This type of carrot is grown primarily for packed products.
Chantenay carrot – Short and thick, this carrot is about five inches long and has a lighter orange color. Chantenay carrots are usually used for processed diced carrots.
Amsterdam carrot – Cylindrical roots and are deep red-orange in color. This is considered as a very good finger carrots.
Bertan carrot – This is the sweetest type of carrot. It also is smooth and juicy and does not lose its sweetness over time.
Carson carrot – This carrot has a deep orange core and has a sweet and crunchy taste. This carrot is considered as one of the best types of carrot.
Ingot carrot – This is a very sweet carrot that is high in carotene and vitamin C. This type of carrot is also excellent for slicing, fresh eating or freezing.

Nutritional Benefits of Carrots

Carrots are excellent sources of nutrients. They have a high sugar content, but it is also an excellent regulator of blood sugar. It is a known fact that carrots are rich in carotenoids, which helps regulate blood sugar.

Carrots contain vitamins A, B1, B6, C, E, D and K. This vegetable is also rich in biotin, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and organic sodium. The phytonutrients that are present in carrots include lutein, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and gama-carotene (antioxidants), xantrophyll and zeaxanthin. The phytonutrients help the body fight off a number of diseases and help heal damaged cells in the body.

The carotenes that are present in carrots help prevent the occurrence of several medical conditions and relieve the symptoms of medical conditions like acne and asthma. Regular consumption of carrot juice helps against acidosis, anemia, cancer, congestion, emphysema, atherosclerosis and constipation.

Do Carrots Bring Any Ill Effects?

As carrots have a high sugar content, it is recommended for diabetics to limit to having only half a carrot everyday.

There have been cases where a person turns orange because of drinking carrot juice. What causes this condition is the elimination of materials that have been clogging the liver. This unclogging of the liver is caused by the compounds that are found in the carrot juice. Although this may sound and look alarming, this is actually a good thing as the body is being cleansed by the carrot juice. The orange color eventually wears off with continued consumption of the juice.