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| Sunday, 27 October 2002 |
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Veggie in the limelight... :Carrots In our new series highlighting the importance of vegetables, we put the humble carrot under the microscope and look at its origins, food value, natural benefits and curative properties and best to use it. Description Carrots are popular the world over. A powerful cleansing food, you can boil it, grate it, stew it, make a cake or curry, or eat it raw. You can even eat the leaves, which we often discard deeming it either unpalatable, unedible or something like that. The leaves, in case your are wondering are highly nutritive, and are rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. There are many varieties of carrots. Broadly, they can be classified into two groups - the Asiatic and European types. The former is marked by their larger size, darker colour and sweet taste. The latter have a smooth surface, a thin core, a better shape and less fibre. Carrots are believed to have originated in Central Asia, specifically in the hills of Punjab and Kashmir in India, with a secondary centre of distribution in Asia, Europe, and North Africa around the Mediterranean. It is now cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Central, East and West Africa, South America and the Caribbean and literally all parts of the world. Food Value Nutritionally, carrots are an extremely rich source of vitamin A. The name carotene, which is a form of pro-vitamin, has been derived from carrot. The carotene is converted into vitamin A by the liver and it is also stored in our body. Carrots are rich in sodium, sulphur, chlorine and contain traces of iodine. The mineral content in carrots lie very close to the skin, hence they should be peeled or scraped off. Natural Benefit and Curative Properties Being rich in alkaline elements which purify and revitalise the blood, carrots are a good food source to help nourish the entire system and maintain the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Carrot juice, sometimes referred to as 'miracle juice' is a great health-giving drink, for both children and adults alike. It strengthens the eyes and keeps the mucus membranes of all cavities of the body in a healthy condition. It is also beneficial in the treatment of dry and rough skin. Chewing a carrot immediately after meals, kills all the harmful germs in the mouth. It cleans the teeth, removes the food particles lodged in the crevices and prevents bleeding of the gums. It also prevents tooth decay. |
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