While skimming through some of my latest Care2 articles I ran across one by Alisa Fortunati, talking about how smart it is to eat your carrots.

Most of us know they're more than a tasty addition to soups, salads and juices. And who hasn't grown up being told they'll keep your eyesight sharp? It's true. But they are also good for your body's overall health, especially the skin, digestive system, and teeth!

Speaking of teeth, I remember my Aunt Annie always telling us kids that along with apples and celery, carrots are nature's toothbrush.

Anyway, if the sweet flavor of a fresh carrot isn't enough to entice you to munch, then consider these other 10 reasons to eat more carrots:

1. Beta carotene: Carrots are a rich source of this powerful antioxidant, which, among other vital uses, can be converted into vitamin A in the body to help maintain healthy skin.

2. Digestion: Carrots increase saliva and supply essential minerals, vitamins and enzymes that aid in digestion. Eating carrots regularly may help prevent gastric ulcers and other digestive disorders.

3. Alkaline elements: Carrots are rich in alkaline elements, which purify and revitalize the blood while balancing the acid/alkaline ratio of the body.

4. Potassium: Carrots are a good source of potassium, which can help maintain healthy sodium levels in the body, thereby helping to reduce elevated blood pressure levels.

5. Dental Health: Carrots kill harmful germs in the mouth and help prevent tooth decay.

6. Wounds: Raw or grated carrots can be used to help heal wounds, cuts and inflammation.

7. Phytonutrients: Among the many beneficial phytochemicals that carrots contain is a phytonutrient called falcarinol, which may reduce the risk of colon cancer and help promote overall colon health.

8. Carotenoids: Carrots are rich in carotenoids, which our bodies can use to help regulate blood sugar.

9. Fiber: Carrots are high in soluble fiber, which may reduce cholesterol by binding the LDL form (the kind we don't want) and increasing the HDL form (the kind our body needs) to help reduce blood clots and prevent heart disease.

10. Eyes, hair, nails and more! The nutrients in carrots can improve the health of your eyes, skin, hair, nails and more through helping to detoxify your system and build new cells!

Beyond the health factor, though, there are lots of things you can do with carrots. Here are 10 from a great blog, Forks Up for Real Food (Stephanie on www.blog.greenling.com):

1.

Finely chop them and add to pasta sauce to sweeten it up.

2. Cut into sticks to eat with your favorite dip, as a healthier alternative to chips. Some of my favorite carrot dips are salsa and hummus.

3. Roast and serve as a simple side dish, or add to salads. I like to roast a big batch of veggies on the weekend, then chill and add them to salads during the week.

4. Make them the focal ingredient of a quick soup; add them to a curry soup, for instance.

5. Use them in a salad, but think outside the box. Yes, they could be part of the salad ingredients, but consider steaming and pureeing them and combining them with a vinaigrette or other dressing.

6.

Make dessert, taking advantage of their natural sweetness. While we see them shredded for cake, cookies, or muffins, why not steam them and use them in pudding, pie, and custards the way we do pumpkin and squash?

7.

Consider pickling them. People are doing this!

8. Cube and add to your favorite pot roast recipe.

9.

Eat 'em for breakfast. Steamed and mashed or fresh and shredded, they go well in pancakes and waffles.

10. OK, can't stomach another carrot? Just make vegetable broth with them. This is a great way to use up other veggies lying around. And homemade broth tastes a million times better than store-bought.

The list goes on, so take this smart advice, and eat your carrots. In fact, consider growing your own this spring-the fresher the better when it comes to carrots.