Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Carrots may provide benefits to those at high risk of this type of cancer -- smokers and those who spend a lot of time around smokers -- due to the nutrients in this healthy root vegetable. Do not eat carrots in place of traditional cancer treatments.
Lycopene
Carrots are chock full of lycopene, a compound that gives carrots their color. This compound may also help fight lung cancer. A study published in the October 2010 issue of the journal "Carcinogenesis" indicates that lycopene inhibits the growth of some lung cancer cells. White carrots do not have a great deal of lycopene, so look for carrots that are red, orange or purple. One cup of carrots contain 1 mcg of lycopene, but no daily recommended intake of this compound exists.
Falcarinol
Pesticides are known to cause cancer rather than prevent it, but in the case of falcarinol, a pesticide used to prevent fungal diseases in carrots, it may prevent lung cancer. A study carried out in the 2005 by researchers from Denmark and England indicates that falcarinol prevented tumor growth in rats. More research is needed to determine if this finding correlates to humans and how it affects lung cancer in men and women.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene, an antioxidant found in carrots, may help ward off lung cancer. Research featured in the April 2011 issue of "Nutrition" suggests that lung cancer patients demonstrated a lower level of antioxidants than healthy test subjects. Researchers theorize that this finding could have implications in nutrition to prevent cancer. While you should not rely solely on carrots as a preventative measure if you have a high risk of developing lung cancer, it may provide some benefits. A cup of carrots contains 10,605 mcg of beta-carotene.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
The lutein and zeaxanthin in carrots may protect you from lung cancer. Evidence available in the 2006 edition of "Current Pharmaceutical Design" points to lutein and zeaxanthin as having some protective benefits when it comes to this type of cancer. A 1-cup serving of carrots provides you with 328 mcg of these compounds, although recommended dosage to fight disease exists.
References
- Agricultural Research Services; Carrots With Cancer; E.K. Peabody; November 2004
- "Carcinogenesis"; Lycopene Induces Cell Growth Inhibition By Altering Mevalonate Pathway and Ras Signalling in Cancer Cell Lines; P. Palozza, et al.; October 2010
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Carrots, Raw
- ScienceDaily; Carrot Component Reduces Cancer Risk; February 2005
- "Nutrition"; Serum Antioxidant Levels and Nutritional Status in Early and Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients; K. Klarod, et al.; April 2011
- "Current Pharmaceutical Design"; Antioxidant Vitamins and Risk of Lung Cancer; A. Ruano-Ravina, et al.; 2006
