Winter season is round the corner and this means fresh carrots are going to be available in market soon. Carrots have been increasingly popular because of its health benefits and its positive effects on eye health. Apart from eyes, there are other benefits of carrots as well. Carrot juice and carrot halwa which we fondly say as “gajar ka halwa” are some favorites that come to our mind. Today we will discuss about which one is healthier for you and different variations through which you can have gajar ka halwa without thinking much of the fat or calories.
Carrot Juice or Gajar ka Halwa
We took an expert advice from Ms. Shilpa Singh, Clinical Nutritionist from Fatima Hospital, Lucknow to know about benefits of eating these two carrot recipes. She told if the nourishment is concerned then gajar ka halwa is better because it also has milk, khoya, ground nuts and carrots which make it a healthy dish apart from sugar which is harmful. On the other hand, carrot juice is very rich in nutrients and is low on calories as compared to halwa, hence it is more beneficial.
Therefore in total for purpose of regular consumption and health benefits carrot juice is a healthier option for sure. However carrot Halwa can also be had once in a while for its good fats and healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, calcium and other nutrients by changing sugar with jaggery or natural sugar.
What are the benefits of having gajar ka halwa?
Gajar ka halwa contains ingredients such as carrots, milk and ghee majorly all of which are beneficial for your health.
Carrots- They are rich in anti-oxidants that help in the eyesight and eye health. It contains vitamin A, C and K which promotes healthy blood sugar levels in the body and maintains overall health.
Milk- As we know milk is a very healthy source of calcium, protein and vitamins. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B12 and D that are highly effective in preventing bone related problems. Milk also contains potassium, calcium and magnesium that make the milk more effective remedy against symptoms of osteoporosis.
Ghee- This ingredient is actually very beneficial for your body, there are many myths about clarified butter but it contains amino acids and anti-oxidants that helps to prevent a number of health problems. Ghee also increases immunity of the people.
Health benefits of Carrot Juice
Carrot juice has various health benefits especially its ability to prevent and ease health problems and diseases that cause complications. Here are some benefits of carrot juice that could make you choose carrot juice over halwa and others.
1. It helps in relieving symptoms of stomach cancer
Those people who eat carrots are actually on reduced risk of having stomach cancer. This is because it contains antioxidants and some nutrients that reduce the effect of cancer cells in the body. According to a study by National Institute of Medical Sciences, carrots can decrease the risk of stomach cancer by a whole lot of 26%. Hence it can be a very healthy and essential food in your diet.
Also Read- 6 Common Myths About Cholesterol, Note These To Avoid Health Adversities
2. Relieves symptoms of Breast Cancer
Carrots actually aid in reducing the inflammation of cells that happens in the time of breast cancer. This is because carrot juices have high levels of carotenoids which help in reducing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is actually harmful for your health and hence it needs to be cured. Carrots are effective to reduce these problems and hence are effective against problems related to breast cancer.
They are associated with low risk of breast cancer and prevent breast cancer from returning, hence people who have breast cancer or have tendency to fall for it should start drinking carrot juice to maintain their health benefits.
3. Condition of Leukemia
There are not many studies that can confirm the benefits of carrot juice in treating leukemia, but there have been enough to determine a positive impact on the person going through it. Hence carrot juice can be considered as an effective beverage to have for treating leukemia cells. It helps to stop or reduce the self destruction of cells that is usually the case with this health condition.
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
As we have known till now that carrot juices have high levels of vitamin C, it can be effective in treating conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This has been effective to patients over 40 those have COPD. Not just vitamin C, but other nutrients such as vitamin A and potassium also aids in keeping the condition balanced. Carrot juice is even advised as a dietary supplement for people with conditions of COPD.
Also Read- Vitamin B6 Benefits: Foods To Eat To Prevent Deficiency
What are the Risks of Having Carrot Juice?
Well, carrot juice is mostly beneficial and does not have any side-effect as such. But since it is a beverage and you sometimes may not know of the quality of water or carrots used, it can carry water-borne diseases with it. Hence carrot juice should be avoided by these following people-
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- Very young children or infants
- People going through the process of cancer treatments
This is because in all these cases, the immunity of the person is quite low, that can affect people having water borne diseases. Carrot juice which is available in tetrapacks and packaged ones must be avoided. It is always healthy to make carrot juice fresh at your home.
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