Sweet orange roots

Available in 1 lb. bags

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A—one serving provides 210 percent of the recommended daily amount. This essential vitamin is used by the eyes to maintain good vision. Regular consumption of carrots may also help to protect the eyes from age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Carrots contain a substance called retinoic acid, which appears to aid the body in maintaining healthy skin. The vitamin A and antioxidants found in carrots help protect skin from sun damage and the harmful effects of the free radicals that are sometimes released during normal metabolic processes.

A ten-year study of 20,000 men and women conducted in the Netherlands found that people who ate half a cup of the root vegetable daily were significantly less likely to develop cardiovascular disease.