Carrots ARE good for you… and your heart. A study conducted in the U.S. showed that participants who ate about 1 cup of carrots a day reduced their blood cholesterol levels by approximately 11% over a 3-week period. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are important in the fight against heart disease. Studies have found that high doses of beta-carotene may lower the risk of heart disease by as much as 45%. [ sunday farmer's market, sebastopol, ca ]