Carrot Country

Category: Health

  • Study Shows Health Benefits of Baby Carrots

    Study Shows Health Benefits of Baby Carrots

    A recent study found that eating baby carrots three times a week can increase carotenoid levels in the skin of young adults. Carotenoids are key indicators of fruit and vegetable intake and are linked to enhanced antioxidant protection and reduced risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

    Conducted by researchers at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, the four-week study involved 60 young adults randomly assigned to different groups. Participants consumed apple slices (control), 100 grams (about half a cup) of baby carrots, a multivitamin supplement containing beta carotene, or a combination of baby carrots and the supplement. Results showed a notable rise in skin carotenoid scores among those consuming baby carrots, with the combination of carrots and the supplement yielding the highest increase.

  • Prepping Produce: Just Wash It

    Prepping Produce: Just Wash It

    While there are substantial amounts of peer-reviewed studies which show the safety of organic and conventional produce, consumers who may still be concerned about residues can follow the advice of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about washing fruits and vegetables. According to the FDA, you can reduce and often eliminate any residues that may be present by washing organic and conventional fresh produce.

    But what do experts advise in terms of how to properly wash and prep produce?  There is a lot of misinformation about washing, including recommendations that are an unnecessary expense, may diminish produce quality or possibly be a safety issue.

    Here are steps on how to safely and effectively wash and handle fruits and veggies based upon FDA recommendations:

    • When preparing any fresh fruits or vegetables, always begin with clean hands. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after preparation.
    • Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, your sink and countertops with soap and hot water between preparing raw meat, poultry, and seafood and preparing produce.
    • Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing and/or eating.
    • Remove and discard the outer leaves of leafy vegetables, like lettuce and cabbage.
    • Wash all organic and conventional produce thoroughly under running tap water before preparing and/or eating, including produce grown at home, bought at a farmers’ market or purchased from a grocery store. Washing under running tap water will help remove dirt, bacteria and any residues that may be present.
    • Using produce washes, baking soda, vinegar is not necessary and not worth the added expense. Running tap water is the most effective way to wash fresh fruits and vegetables.
    • Even if you do not plan to eat the skin, it is still important to wash produce first so dirt and bacteria are not transferred from the surface when peeling or cutting produce.
    • Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.

    Just Running Tap Water, No Soap or Detergents:  DO NOT use hand soap, detergents or household cleaning wipes to sanitize fresh produce. Those soaps and detergents are designed for washing hands, washing dishes or cleaning surfaces. They have not been approved for use on foods.

    READ MORE

    SOURCE: ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AND FARMING

  • The Need for Nuance in Carbohydrate Recommendations

    The Need for Nuance in Carbohydrate Recommendations

    Carbohydrates have traditionally been the largest source of energy intake for much of the world’s population. However, without a standard definition for carbohydrate quality, some foods that contain carbohydrates are often stigmatized based on isolated and reductionist assessment methods that fail to consider their contributions to nutrient intakes and balanced, healthy diets.

    A new perspective piece, published in Advances in Nutrition, brings to light the pressing need to define carbohydrate quality to better assess the value of nutrient-dense carbohydrate-containing foods in healthy lifestyles.

    Ultimately, the authors call for a more holistic approach to carbohydrate guidance to address the complex needs of both people and the planet.

    READ ARTICLE: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/621327

  • VIDEO: Could carrot pulp revolutionize food industry?

    VIDEO: Could carrot pulp revolutionize food industry?

    Once considered waste, researchers have found that carrot pulp has all the benefits of fiber but without the side effects. “No bloating, no intestinal problems, diabetes, take it and watch your bool glucose come down”.

    http://www.wcvb.com/health/carrot-pulp-could-revolutionize-food-industry/41039820

  • 24 Amazing Benefits Of Carrots For Skin And Health

    24 Amazing Benefits Of Carrots For Skin And Health

    Few Facts About Carrots:

    Carrots are basically root vegetables belonging to the Apeaceae or Umbelliferrous family, which also includes parsley, parsnip, dill, cumin, etc. A carrot plant has green leaves and a long, slender, orange root that is edible. Baby carrots are tender but they also have less flavor because they are yet to mature.

    These vegetables are believed to have originated about 5000 years ago. In fact, you will be surprised to know that carrots used to be red, black, yellow, white, and mostly purple in colour, but not orange. They were first cultivated in Afghanistan, and had purple exteriors with yellow flesh. Bright orange carrots were developed by the Dutch in the middle ages and today, they are the most common ones.

    Besides their delicious flavor, carrots contain high amounts of beta-carotene and other health-benefitting compounds such as vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots offer several health benefits and are particularly beneficial for organs like the eyes, skin, digestive system and teeth. No doubt, they are a favorite of Bugs Bunny and account for his swiftness, energy and intelligence.

    Carrots are often used in juice therapy for the treatment of certain diseases. In fact, carrots were initially grown as medicine for treating a variety of ailments. This vegetable can be eaten both in its raw and cooked forms. It serves as a fat substitute when used as a thickener in soups, sauces, casseroles and quick breads. A steaming bowl of carrot soup is a great way to boost your nutrition in winter.

    This crunchy power food is low in calories and contains no fat. However, it can provide you with high doses of vitamin A and other antioxidants. Here are the benefits of eating carrot – for skin, hair and health.

    Skin Benefits Of Carrots:

    The benefits of carrot for the skin are due to the abundant amounts of Vitamin A and other antioxidants, which protect against various skin problems and help in maintaining skin health.

    The benefits of eating carrots for the skin are as follows:

    1. Carrots For Glowing Skin:

    The consumption of carrots keeps your skin healthy and vibrant as they are loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants. Carrots can also be used to prepare an inexpensive and convenient face mask. All you need to do is to mix grated carrot with some honey and apply it as a face mask to get glowing skin.

    2. Treatment Of Blemishes/Scars:

    Drinking carrot juice is effective in getting rid of blemishes and scars. You can also apply carrot pulp on your skin to clear the blemishes.

    3. Anti-Ageing Benefits:

    Carrots also contain Vitamin C that aids the collagen production in the body. Collagen is a type of protein that is vital for the maintenance of the skin elasticity. It helps prevent wrinkles and locks the process of aging. Vitamin A, being an antioxidant, also attacks the free radicals to prevent the signs of aging like wrinkles, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone.

    Benefits Of Carrots pin_image_share

    Image: shutterstock

    4. Sun Protection:

    Beta-carotene, found in carrots, is a skin-friendly nutrient that is converted to vitamin A inside the body. It helps in repairing the skin tissues and provides protection against the sun’s harsh rays. The antioxidants and carotenoids protect and condition the skin to increase its immunity against the sun and heal sunburns. In fact, the consumption of carrot juice in summer acts as a natural sun block.

    [ Read: DIY Carrot And Banana Hair Mask ]

    5. Suitable For Dry Skin:

    The deficiency of potassium can lead to a dry skin. Carrots are rich in potassium. Hence, drinking carrot juice can prevent this problem and keep your skin hydrated.

    6. Treatment of Skin Ailments:

    Carrots are effective in the prevention and cure of various skin ailments. The antioxidants in this vegetable can treat skin conditions like pimples and acne, rashes, dermatitis and other skin problems caused due to Vitamin A deficiency. However, keep in mind not to consume carrots in excess as they can cause your skin to temporarily turn yellowish-orange in color.

    7. Healing Qualities:

    Carrots possess great healing qualities. Raw or grated carrots can be applied to wounds, cuts, and inflammation for quick healing. Their anti-inflammatory properties help to revitalize and tone the skin.

    Carrot Facial Masks For Skin:

    Wondering about how to use a carrot on the face? Here are a few carrot facial masks for you to check out.

    8. Carrot Moisturizing Facial Mask:

    Things you will need:

    • 2 teaspoons of grated carrot
    • A teaspoon of honey
    • A teaspoon of milk cream
    • Few drops of olive oil

    Preparation And Usage:

    1. Grind the grated carrots to a smooth paste. Collect this carrot paste in a small bowl and add all the remaining ingredients to it.
    2. Blend well with a spoon and your quick, homemade, carrot moisturizing facial mask is all ready to use.
    3. Cleanse your face with a gentle facial cleanser and apply this carrot mask evenly over your skin.
    4. Let it sit on your face for 10-15 minutes. Splash cold water and wash away after that.
    5. Pat dry to see your soft, glowing and, of course, moisturized skin.

    9. Carrot Calming Facial Spray:

    How does our facial skin feel after getting exposed to sunlight and dust? Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable and tanned? Give your skin a carrot spray to get that soothing effect.

    1. Extract the juice from fresh carrots and mix this carrot juice with 2 parts of rose water.
    2. Store this liquid in an old, cleaned spray bottle and, that’s it!
    3. Your homemade, calming, carrot facial spray is ready for usage.

    You can use this spray all over your body to reduce heat, tan and sun burns!

    Hair Benefits Of Carrots:

    Since ages, carrots have been known to promote hair growth and add thickness to the hair. Being loaded with vitamin A, carrots offer the following benefits for your hair.

    10. Treatment Of Hair Loss:

    Carrots are great for combating hair loss as they provide your hair with vital vitamins, making them stronger, thicker and shinier. Drinking carrot juice makes your hair healthy. This is the best benefit of carrots for the hair.

    11. Stimulates Hair Growth:

    Consuming 3 to 4 ounces of carrot juice daily stimulates the hair growth and thickens your hair. Vitamin C and Vitamin E in carrots improve the circulation in the scalp, thus promoting hair growth and prevent premature graying of hair.

    [ Read: Carrots For Hair Growth ]

    Health Benefits Of Carrots:

    The health benefits of carrots are surplus. Let’s have a look at those amazing benefits:

    12. Eye Care:

    Carrots are excellent for the eyes, thanks to the presence of the abundant amounts of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. This vitamin is converted in the retina to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision. Beta-carotene improves the night vision and protects against eye problems like glaucoma, macular degeneration and senile cataracts. It is also helpful in treating night blindness. A study has proved that the consumption of beta-carotene reduces the risk of macular degeneration by 40%.

    13. Cardiovascular Benefits:

    Carrots contain a variety of antioxidants and polyacetylenes which, together, provide a protective shield to the heart. Studies have shown that the consumption of foods high in carotenoids lowers the risk of heart disease. Besides being extremely rich in beta-carotene, carrots also contain alpha-carotene and lutein. The regular consumption of carrots protects your heart from oxidative damage, plaque formation and bad cholesterol elevation. This is because they contain soluble fibers which bind with bile acids.

    14. Prevents Cancer:

    Studies have shown that the consumption of carrots can reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. This is because carrots are rich in the poly-acetylene antioxidant, falcarinol, which fights against cancers by destroying the pre-cancerous cells in the tumors. In this way, carrots possess anti-carcinogenic properties that inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon and support the health of the lower digestive tract. This is one of the best health benefits of carrots.

    15. Boosts The Immune System:

    Carrots contain a variety of nutrients and antioxidants along with vitamin C, and these will boost your immune system. The regular consumption of carrots creates a protective shield for our body.

    16. Dental Health:

    Carrots are beneficial for your teeth and mouth as they scrape off plaque and food particles. Carrots stimulate the gums and facilitate the formation of a lot of saliva. Saliva is alkaline in nature and balances the acid-forming and cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals present in carrots kill the harmful germs in the mouth and prevent tooth decay.

    17. Cleanses The Body:

    As stated earlier, carrots contain abundant amounts of Vitamin A which assists the liver in flushing out toxins from the body. It reduces the accumulation of bile and fat in the liver. The soluble fiber, on the other hand, cleanses the colon by facilitating waste elimination.

    18. Prevents Ageing:

    The high level of beta carotene in the carrots acts as an antioxidant to prevent and reverse the cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. Thus, it helps in slowing down the aging of cells.

    [ Read: Carrot Juice Is Extremely Beneficial For Women ]

    19. Beneficial During Menstruation And The Post-Menopausal Phase:

    Carrot juice is extremely beneficial for women. This is because the phytoestrogen in carrots helps relieve menstrual pain and regularizes bleeding in those having heavy menstrual flow. It is also beneficial for post-menopausal women as it helps to get rid of hot flushes and stabilizes other menopausal symptoms.

    20. Helpful During Pregnancy:

    Carrots are particularly helpful during pregnancy as they aid in the proper development of the fetus and reduce the risk of fetal infections and miscarriage. The regular consumption of carrots is known to help in the production of breast milk and improve its quality.

    21. Prevents Stroke:

    According to a research conducted at Harvard University, people who consumed more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer from strokes in comparison to those who ate only one carrot a month, or less.

    22. Source Of Calcium:

    Very few of us are aware of the fact that carrots contain calcium that is vital for the growth and development of bones in children and women.

    [ Read: Skincare Recipes with Carrot ]

    23. Digestive Health:

    Carrots are a good source of fiber that helps in regularizing the bowel movements and aids digestion. It is also beneficial in conditions like constipation and acid reflux. Besides, this fiber aids in weight loss and in avoiding sugar hikes in the blood.

    24. General Benefits:

    Carrots are high in carotenoids that regulate blood sugar. They also contain alkaline elements which purify and revitalize the blood as well as balance the acid-alkaline ratio in the body. The high potassium content in carrots helps in balancing the high levels of sodium associated with hypertension and controls the blood pressure.

    Nutritional Value Of Carrots:

    Carrots are a nutritious addition to your diet as they are one of the richest sources of beta carotene. They also have an amazing combination of phytonutrients comprising of other carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and lutein, hydroxycinnamon acids, anthocyanins and poly-acetylenes like falcarinol and falcarindiol. They are also important sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber and potassium. They also contain vitamin B6, niacin, folate, vitamin E, enzyme-supporting manganese and molybdenum, and energy-providing vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. The nutritional value of carrots is explained below. See the table for in-depth analysis of nutrients:

    Carrots (Daucus carota), Fresh, raw
    Nutrition value per 100 g.Total-ORAC value 666 umol TE/100 g.
    (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
    Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA
    Energy 41 Kcal 2%
    Carbohydrates 9.58 g 7%
    Protein 0.93 g 1.5%
    Total Fat 0.24 g 1%
    Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
    Dietary Fiber 2.8 g 7%
    Vitamins
    Folates 19 µg 5%
    Niacin 0.983 mg 6%
    Pantothenic acid 0.273 mg 5.5%
    Pyridoxine 0.138 mg 10%
    Riboflavin 0.058 mg 4%
    Thiamin 0.066 mg 6%
    Vitamin A 16706 IU 557%
    Vitamin C 5.9 mg 10%
    Vitamin K 13.2 µg 11%
    Electrolytes
    Sodium 69 mg 4.5%
    Potassium 320 mg 6.5%
    Minerals
    Calcium 33 mg 3%
    Copper 0.045 mg 5%
    Iron 0.30 mg 4%
    Magnesium 12 mg 3%
    Manganese 0.143 mg 6%
    Phosphorus 35 mg 5%
    Selenium 0.1 µg <1%
    Zinc 0.24 mg 2%
    Phyto-nutrients
    Carotene-α 3427 µg —
    Carotene-ß 8285 µg —
    Crypto-xanthin-ß 0 µg —
    Lutein-zeaxanthin 256 µg —

     

    • Calories And fat: Carrots are low in calories with a 100 gram serving providing just 41 calories. They contain negligible amount of fat and absolutely no cholesterol.
    • Fiber: Carrots are a good source of dietary fiber. A cup of chopped carrots provides about 3.6 grams of dietary fiber. The recommended daily allowance of fiber is 21 to 25 grams for women and 30 to 38 grams for men. Fiber helps in keeping your intestines and arteries clear and clean, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
    • Beta Carotene And Vitamin A: Carrots are renowned for their high content of beta carotene. They are a top source of vitamin A with 1 cup serving of chopped carrots providing 1069 micrograms of this vitamin.
    • Vitamin A is vital for healthy eyes, skin, teeth and bones. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A is 700 micrograms and 900 micrograms for women and men respectively.
    • Vitamin K: A cup of chopped carrots provides 16.9 micrograms of vitamin K, which is equivalent to 20% of the RDA of 75 to 90 micrograms. This vitamin plays a crucial role in clotting your blood as well as maintaining the bone health, thus reducing the risk of fractures, breaks and osteoporosis.
    • Vitamin C: Fresh carrots are also a good source of Vitamin C, with a 100 gram serving providing about 9% RDA of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that helps in maintaining healthy connective tissue, teeth and gums.
    • Antioxidants: Carrots contain a variety of antioxidants. They are particularly rich in the poly-acetylene antioxidant, falcarinol. This antioxidant possesses anti-carcinogenic properties as it destroys the pre-cancerous cells in the tumors.
    • B-Vitamins: Carrots are especially rich in the B-complex group of vitamins such as folic acid, Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc. that act as co-factors of enzymes.
    • Minerals: Carrots also contain healthy amounts of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus.

    Now that you know the health, beauty and hair benefits of carrots, you are going to definitely include in your diet routine, won’t you? Does your diet include carrots every day? Or it needs to be introduced? Share your thoughts with us through comments.

    Originally posted at: StyleCraze

  • Baby carrots are not baby carrots

    Baby carrots are not baby carrots

    By Roberto A. Ferdman

    Ten years ago, NPR opened a radio news segment with a few words about a man few knew. Mike Yurosek, a carrot farmer from California, had passed away earlier that year. The homage was short —it lasted no more than 30 seconds — but for many of those listening, it must have been eye-opening.

    “He actually invented these things,” Stephen Miller, then an obituary writer with the New York Sun said, holding a bag of baby carrots. “Not many people know that baby carrots don’t grow this way.”

    There are small carrots, which uppity restaurants serve as appetizers or alongside entrees, that sprout from the ground. But those look like miniature versions of the much larger vegetable. The smooth, snack-sized tubes that have come to define carrot consumption in the United States are something different. They’re milled, sculpted from the rough, soiled, mangled things we call carrots, and they serve as an example, though perhaps not a terribly grave one, of how disconnected we have all become from the production of our food.

    “The majority of consumers have no clue what they’re eating or how it’s produced,” said David Just, a professor of behavioral economics at Cornell who studies consumer food choices. “There are so many people who honestly believe there are baby carrot farmers out there who grow these baby carrots that pop out of the ground and are perfectly convenient and smooth.”

    It’s hard to overstate the ingenuity of the baby carrot, one of the simplest and yet most influential innovations in vegetable history. The little carrot sculptures (or baby cut carrots, as they’re sometimes called to clarify) not only revived a once-struggling carrot industry, but they also helped both curb waste on the farm and sell the Vitamin A-filled vegetables at the supermarkets.

    The birth of the baby carrot

    The baby carrot, like so many inventions before it, was birthed by necessity.

    In the early 1980s, the carrot business was stagnant and wasteful. Growing seasons were long, and more than half of what farmers grew was ugly and unfit for grocery shelves. But in 1986, Yurosek, itching for a way to make use of all the misshapen carrots, tried something new. Instead of tossing them out, he carved them into something more palatable.

    At first, Yurosek used a potato peeler, which didn’t quite work because the process was too laborious. But then he bought an industrial green-bean cutter. The machine cut the carrots into uniform 2-inch pieces, the standard baby carrot size that persists today.

    When Mike Yurosek & Sons, Yurosek’s now-defunct California company, delivered his next batch to Vons, a local grocery chain, he included a bag of the new creation. He suspected he was on to something but hardly anticipated such an enthusiastic response.

    “I said, ‘I’m sending you some carrots to see what you think,’ ” Yurosek recounted in a 2004 interview with USA Today. “Next day they called and said, ‘We only want those.’ ”

    The carrot savior

    Vons wasn’t the only one impressed. Grocers, distributors, carrot buyers, and, most importantly, some of Yurosek’s most formidable competition took notice. In the years that followed, baby carrots ballooned into big business, nudging the biggest carrot producers in the country to join in and feed the frenzy.

    “When we realized this wasn’t a fad, this was real, everybody jumped on the bandwagon,” Tim McCorkle, director of sales for Bolthouse Farms, one of the nation’s leading carrot producers, recalled in a 1998 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. “This idea inverted the whole carrot-growing business.”

    It also helped lift the industry out of a rut. In 1987, the year after Yurosek’s discovery, carrot consumption jumped by almost 30 percent, according to data from the USDA. By 1997, the average American was eating roughly 14 pounds of carrots per year, 117 percent more than a decade earlier. The baby carrot doubled carrot consumption.

    Today, baby carrots dominate the carrot industry. The packaged orange snacks are now responsible for almost 70 percent of all carrot sales.

    A 2007 report by the USDA detailed many ways in which baby carrots have morphed the entire carrot landscape in the United States.

    The development and rapid consumer acceptance of packaged fresh-cut carrot products during the 1990s has helped the carrot industry evolve from a supplier of low-value bulk products to marketer of relatively upscale value added products … fresh-cut carrot products have been the fastest growing segment of the carrot industry since the early 1990s. Within the $1.3 billion fresh-cut vegetable category, carrots account for the largest share (about half) of supermarket sales, followed distantly by potatoes, celery, and others.

    A too perfect snack

    Of all the reasons for the rise of America’s favorite carrot, there is likely nothing that has propelled baby carrots quite like their convenience. The quality was important to Americans in the 1980s, and it’s even more precious now.

    As people have found themselves with less time to sit down at restaurants or even cook at home, convenience has guided all sorts of decisions about food, especially when there is an option that requires little more than opening a packet.

    “Baby carrots have transformed the way people think about carrots,” said Just, the behavioral food economist. “The fact that you don’t have to peel them, that it involves so little prep, is key.”

    “Baby carrots are also small enough to fit in your mouth,” he added. “They’re bite-sized and ready to be eaten. They’re easy.”

    The fuzziness about the baby carrot’s origins may have also helped their success.

    Recent marketing efforts to further boost their popularity have positioned them as an alternative to junk food, rather than a different way to eat carrots. The packaging was changed to mirror that used for potato chips. “Eat ’Em Like Junk Food,” the 2010 TV, print, and digital ads suggested, likening the vegetable vehicle to Doritos and other snack foods.

    The campaign was a hit, boosting sales by 13 percent, succeeding, at least in part, by further disassociating baby carrots from their parent.

    “This is a common theme now,” said Just. “We are more and more disconnected from what we eat.”

    The truth is that it probably doesn’t matter all too much whether someone understands that the smooth little 2-inch carrot cut-outs they’re devouring didn’t grow in the ground. Just maintains that knowing this probably wouldn’t change anyone’s consumption patterns, save perhaps for a small group of hardcore naturalists, since the processing involved is comparatively minimal.

    But that doesn’t forgive the disconnect. Baby carrots, the ones that don’t grow in the ground, have done more than simply boost the sales of carrot producers around the country—they have turned the carrot industry into a much more efficient and much less wasteful endeavor.

    At a time when most ugly vegetables go to waste in the United States, ugly carrots are carved and sold at a premium. What’s more, moving the peeling process to the factory has allowed the carrot industry to make use of the scraps that used to end up in people’s trash bins.

    “It’s something pretty amazing about baby carrots that I’m sure people don’t appreciate,” Just lamented. “The same people probably think selecting only for regular carrots is more environmentally friendly.”

     

    Originally posted at the The Washington Post

  • Carrots pack a healthy punch

    Carrots pack a healthy punch

    By Bonnie Brost, For the News Tribune

     

    The carrot is one of the world’s most popular vegetables, second only to the potato. The carrot has been declared 2016’s “Vegetable of the Year” by the Duluth Community Garden Program and the National Garden Bureau to encourage people to plant and eat the common root vegetable.

    Read the story here:

    http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4053645-nutrition-carrots-pack-healthy-punch

     

  • Carrots over cough medicine!

    Carrots over cough medicine!

    (NaturalNews) Carrots were first cultivated thousands of years ago in the region we now call Afghanistan. Cultivated by Dutch growers during the 16th and 17th centuries, the orange carrot we love today quickly saw an outstanding boost in popularity, often being referred to as one of the ultimate health foods. As it turns out, our long-lasting love for this orange veggie was not misplaced. In addition to a great number of health benefits, carrots offer us a natural solution for coughs and all kinds of respiratory issues.

    Indeed, whether you’re suffering from asthma, a plain cough, bronchitis or the cold, a very simple carrot juice recipe can save your day just as effectively as any cough medicine. The advantage? You can stay away from the nasty side effects of medicine and give your body essential nutrients at the same time.

    Carrots can help with coughing and more!

    The nutritional profile of the carrot is quite impressive. A medium carrot or half a cup of chopped carrots contains 25 calories, 6 g of carbohydrates – 3 g of which are sugars – and 1 g of protein, combined with vitamin C, calcium, iron and beta-carotene, an antioxidant and precursor for vitamin A. Fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, magnesium and zinc are also found in carrots, while differently colored varieties contain antioxidants like anthocyanin (for purple) or lycopene (for red).

    As a result, while it is true that carrots can make a great natural cure for the cough, the potential health benefits of this veggie go much further. By eating only one carrot, you can make sure that your body receives more than double its need of vitamin A, according to the USDA, which is essential for protecting eye health and vision. Carrots are also rich in antioxidants, which is why they have shown anti-cancer properties and promising results in blood sugar regulation, delaying the effects of aging and an overall improving immune function.

    The carrot juice that beats cough medicine

    Not yet convinced? Try replacing your cough medicine with this effective carrot juice. All you need to prepare it is half a kilogram of carrots, a few teaspoons of honey and some water. First, you’ll want to cut the carrots into slices and boil them until they become soft. Then, separate the carrots from the water and mash them using a blender or fork. Once the water is cool, add the honey to it and then pour it over the mashed carrots. The resulting syrup can be stored in the fridge or any cold place around the house.

    There are no negative side effects to this healthy syrup, so feel free to use it as frequently as you like. To achieve the best effect against your cough, make sure that you take at least 3 to 4 teaspoons of syrup throughout the day. In only one or two days, the carrots will help you eliminate phlegm from your lungs, as well as alleviate your cough.

    You can even grow your own carrots

    The best carrot juice comes from the best organic carrots, so why not consider planting some of your own? As a root vegetable, carrots are very easy to grow in sandy soil, whether you decide to plan them in the outside garden or a pot inside the house. If you start with seeds and you make sure their soil is deeply tilled, you’ll be able to harvest mature carrots in no more than two and a half months.

    Then, you can enjoy the impressive health benefits of carrots throughout the entire year. And, if you ever catch a cold or a nasty cough, you’ll always have the natural carrot syrup within reach.

    SOURCE: naturalnews.com

    http://www.naturalnews.com/053240_carrots_cough_medicine_natural_remedies.html