By: Ivana Dragica |
Carrot's health benefits |
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This vegetable protects our eyesight, reduces cancer and stroke risk.
Carrot, lat. Daucus carota L, is a root vegetable from Umbelliferae family.
This food item has been cultivated for over 1000 years. It is believed that its home is in Europe, where we still find it in the wild.
Over 100 carrot species has been created via cultivation.
Most of us are familiar with orange carrot, but there are also pink, red, yellow and black carrots.
While the orange carrots are popular in Europe, in South Asia and Africa people mostly use pink colored carrots.
Carrot fruits can vary in size between 2 and 90 centimeters.
Carrot’s content and healing properties
Carrot’s color indicates that it is rich in beta carotene, followed by vitamins K, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and molybdenum.
It is also rich in valuable antioxidants - carotenoides, hydroxamic acids and antocianinas.
Metabolic predecessor of vitamin A, beta carotene, was named after carrot for a reason (lat. Carota) since carrots contain 407% of its daily recommended amounts. Beta carotene strengthens immunity, protects against infections and cancer.
Regular beta carotene consumption reduces the risk of glaucoma and cataract occurrence, helps with eyesight preservation and enhancement and reduces myopia – especially in children.
Beta carotene is needed in the diet of people suffering from cancer (especially lung, stomach, esophagus, cervix and uterus cancer) because, according to research, people suffering from cancer have 1/3 lower levels of beta carotene that healthy people.
Adequate daily doses of beta carotene in smokers significantly reduces the chances of lung cancer and emphysema development.
It is proven that dark-orange color vegetables, especially carrots, are the most effective for maintaining cardiovascular health.
Due to abundance of fibers and pectin, carrot reduces increased cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol levels.
There is no plant that can stop diarrhea and infant vomiting better than carrot and it is also useful for suppressing pinworms in children.
Due to valuable ingredients, carrot is recommended to people suffering from organism weakness, anemia and diseases caused by the lack of vitamins, diseases such as scurvy and rickets.
Carrot juice is great for urination enhancement, and combined with honey it is recommended for throat diseases and immunity strengthening.
If used locally, carrots heal boils, burns, eczema, wounds and suppuration.
Carrot plants are rich in mineral salts and they can cure aphthae if used in a form of bath.
Regular carrot consumption:
- reduces the risk of stroke for 40%
- protects eyesight
- enhances digestion and liver performance
- protects against several forms of cancer
- protects the health of heart and blood vessels
- strengthens immunity
- helps with diarrhea
- enhances skin appearance
- cleans organism
Carrot oils
Carrot root macerate is extremely rich in beta carotenes and is mostly used for sunbathing and for darkening skin, as well as for treating scars and dark spots on the skin. It is best used on dry and dehydrated skin.
Carrot base oil is very expensive, but also highly efficient oil with strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. It is a great product for skin care prior to and after sunbathing, but it is also great for sunburn treatment.
It is also good for oily skin care and for preventing acne and blackhead occurrence. Due to its regenerative properties and circulation enhancement, it is used for treating couperose skin and dark eye circles.
Carrot essential oil stimulates liver and kidney performance, normalizes cholesterol levels and enhances detoxification. It is ideal for treating all skin types, especially mature skin since it regenerates the skin, has anti-inflammatory properties and heals the skin.
It is also used for sunbathing care as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
Anti-aging carrot face mask
Mix one spoon of carrot juice and one spoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture on your face. Wipe your face after 20 minutes. Do not wash your face or apply creams. Apply this face mask two times a week.
Carrot root macerate
Use 15 g of dried grated carrots and 100 ml of cold pressed sunflower oil. Mix them in a closed glass container and expose in the sunlight for two weeks and shake occasionally. Filter the mixture after two weeks. Before applying, dilute the mixture with base oil in ratio 1:10.
Carrot in cuisine
Some believe that carrot should be eaten raw. Others claim that it is the best to cook carrot for a short time for complete utilization of its vitamins.
In any case, you will not go wrong since the beta carotene will not be destroyed if you cook carrots briefly.
You can cook, steam, bake, dry, barbecue or stew carrot; you can also use it for salads, soups, winter food, deserts, puree, sauces, juices etc. Due to its aroma, it goes well with both sweet and salty dishes.
Instead of typical unhealthy snacks, give carrot sticks to your children.
When purchasing carrots, make sure they have a darker color, nicely developed leaves and smooth and healthy root and that they are, if possible, cultivated organically.
It is advisable to use them as soon as possible, but they can be left in the fridge up to two weeks.
Tantalizing carrot recipes
Carrot smoothie
Put one cup of pineapple, half a cup of carrots, half a cup of orange juice, half a cup of ice and half of a banana into the mixer. Mix until you get smooth, dense mixture. Drink it immediately.
Carrot smoothie makes a tasty and healthy breakfast.
Spiced honey young carrots
Ingredients:
- ½ kg of young carrots
- one and a half cups of water
- a pinch of clove
- a pinch of cinnamon
- one and a half spoons of honey
- one spoon of butter
- grated lemon peel (half lemon)
Preparation
Cook carrots and spices for ten minutes (until it goes soft) in a closed pan. Add other ingredients and quickly boil. Serve warm with rice or mashed potatoes.
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