Carrot - sweet cure.

Carrots contain a lot of beta carotene, which may help reduce a wide range of cancers including lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate and breast. Some research indicated beta carotene may actually cause cancer, but this has not proven that eating carrots, unless in very large quantities - 2 to 3 kilos a day, can cause cancer. In fact, a substance called falcarinol that is found in carrots has been found to reduce the risk of cancer, according to researchers at Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences (DIAS). Kirsten Brandt, head of the research department, explained that isolated cancer cells grow more slowly when exposed to falcarinol. This substance is a polyacethylen, however, so it is important not to cook the carrots.
The anti-cancer properties of carrots are enhanced 25 percent if they are cooked whole rather than chopped up beforehand, a study has found.
They taste better too, according to scientists at Newcastle University, because more of their sugar is retained.
"Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are cooked," said lead researcher Dr Kirsten Brandt.
"By cooking them whole and chopping them up afterwards, you are locking in both taste and nutrients."
Brandt, along with colleagues at the University of Denmark, discovered the health benefits of the anti-cancer substance falcarinol in carrots four years ago.
A blind taste test they conducted among 100 people also found 80 percent preferred the taste of whole-cooked carrots.

Carrot Nutritional Facts, per 100 grams
Calories: 35
Calories from Fat: 1
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 78mg
Total Carbohydrates: 8g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 1g
Vitamins
Vitamin A: 276%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 3%
Iron: 5%