Long recommended as a source of vitamins, beta-carotene and potassium, and for their bolstering of eyesight, carrots could also enhance the treatment of type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the University of Southern Denmark.
“Carrots can enhance the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and positively influence the composition of gut bacteria,” the team said, in work published by the medical journal Clinical And Translational Science.
The team carried out tests on mice and found carrots “altered the composition of the gut microbiome – the billions of microorganisms living in the gut that play a crucial role in digestion and health”.
The findings suggest that carrots could “promote a ‘healthier’ microbiome and contribute to improved blood glucose regulation in individuals with type 2 diabetes”, according to the team.
They added that there should be more work done to figure out whether a “carrot-derived bioactive compound” can be used for “developing effective dietary strategies” against the disease.
This is especially as type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly frequent as people eat more processed food and lead more sedentary lives than in the past.
“Type 2 diabetes affects millions worldwide, with numbers on the rise in Denmark and globally.
“In Denmark alone, the number of cases has more than quadrupled since 1996,” the team warned.
Other recently-published research, this time by a team of scientists from the University of Granada and the Public University of Navarra, both in Spain, has found intermittent fasting to help with weight loss and glucose regulation. – dpa
