31 Days of Raw: Day #16 – Carrots

 31 Days of Raw: Day #16
Carrots

I love that whenever my daughter watches Bugs Bunny Cartoons she goes through almost an entire bag of carrots.  I guess he makes them look so good, but I'm thankful for any reason. They are naturally sweet, wonderful for your teeth and so versatile.  I know I keep saying that with every food, but I’ve learned to use everything in different ways for different purposes.  That way, when I buy carrots I’m not limited to just salads or coleslaw.  They become burgers, breads, carrot cake, dips and more.  I hope you enjoy and experiment with the carrot recipe I’ve given you!  Take pictures!  Share your creations! 

Carrots

Prevent heart diseases:
In a study meant to reveal therapeutic value of carrots researchers at the Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that cholesterol level reduces by 11 percent if seven ounces of raw carrots a day are taken for three weeks. High cholesterol is a major factor for heart disease. Since regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol level it is good to prevent heart related problems. A group of Swedish scientists discovered that root vegetables can reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had one third the risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots.

Prevent Cancer:
Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer. British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams a day reduced lung cancer risk more than 40 percent. The average carrot contains about three milligrams of Beta-carotene. In a study, researchers found that eating fiber rich carrots reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not eat carrots.

Macular degeneration:
This is a common eye disease of elderly. It impairs the macula. Researches found that people who ate the most Beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least.

Improves eyesight:
Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrots are rich in vitamin A it is good for improving eyesight.

Stroke:
A carrot a day reduces stroke risk by 68 percent. Many studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of Beta carotene have the best survival rate.

Diabetes:
Carrots are good for blood sugar regulation because of the presence of carotenoids. Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar.

Stomach Ailments
Carrots, especially carrot juice, are a sure-fire ticket to better stomach and gastrointestinal health. The ancient Greeks even knew this-they used carrot juice to cure stomach disorders of all kinds. In fact, the word "carrot" is related to the word karoten, the ancient Greek word for carrots. Carrots improve a variety of digestive problems, such as: Upset stomach, peptic ulcers, gastritis, Crohn's disease (chronic inflammatory disease affecting the whole of the alimentary tract), Diarrhea, Celiac disease (defective digestion found in children), and other digestive disorders.  Chewing of carrots increases saliva and quickens digestion by supplying the necessary enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Regular use of carrot prevents the formation of gastric ulcer and other digestive disorders. Carrot juice is an effective food remedy in ailments like intestinal colic, colitis, appendicitis, peptic ulcer and dyspepsia.

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Carrot Cake Bars

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 tsp of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove

Process all ingredients until well mixed.  Press into casserole dish and chill and then slice into bite size pieces and serve. OR simply shape into whatever shape you like (have fun with cookie cutters!). 
This is a very basic recipe.  It’s delicious in itself, but fun to experiment with.  Ice it with a date paste or a cashew cream…add some whole raisins for a fruitcake texture…the possibilities are endless.

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