The study concluded that eating whole carrots, rather than carotenes, the compounds responsible for the vegetable’s pigment, may protect against cancer.
Traditional Christmas dinner may have health benefits that reduce the risk of cancer, scientists have discovered.
Carrots, in particular, have been shown to have anti-cancer effects when consumed in sufficient amounts.
A study from Newcastle University found that eating carrots five times a week reduced the risk of all types of cancer by 20%.
Consuming just one serving a week contributed to the reduction, and people who didn’t eat carrots at all were 4% less likely to get sick.
The study concluded that eating whole carrots, rather than carotene, the compound responsible for the vegetable’s pigment, may protect against cancer.
Scientists looked at nearly 200 studies and 4.7 million participants.
Charles Ojobor, who led the study, explained how there was a huge amount of data to analyze given previous research on the benefits of carrots.
He said most of these studies have focused on beta-carotene, which is responsible for carrots’ orange color, but that this compound “didn’t show much beneficial effect against cancer in controlled experiments.” .
“As a result, we studied carrots because they contain polyacetylene, a different type of phytochemical that is colorless but has strong cancer-fighting effects,” Ojobor said.
“In our study, we looked at different types of cancer, and our analysis found that people who ate five servings of carrots a week had a 20% lower risk of developing cancer.”
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Eating Brussels sprouts may also help the body fight chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, scientists say. However, steaming preserves its healthful properties compared to roasting or boiling.
Steaming them preserves the glucosinolates. Glucosinolates are important molecules that interact with proteins involved in repairing damaged DNA and promoting cell death in cancer tumors.
Dr Kirsten Brandt, senior lecturer in food and human nutrition at the University of Newcastle, said: ‘When you boil Brussels sprouts, many important compounds are lost into the water.
“Roasting causes them to break down during cooking, so it’s the steaming that gives the final product most of these delicious, healthy ingredients.”
The experts also concluded that rooster potatoes, which have red skin and golden interiors when peeled, are “perfect” for making the best roast potatoes.
Potatoes are rich in fiber and can be cooked to a healthier standard in the air fryer.