Great Natural Health Root: Carrot

The carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is a root vegetable, regularly orange or white, or red-white blend in color, with a crisp texture when fresh. The edible part of a carrot is a taproot. It is a cultivated form of the untamed carrot Daucus carota, native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It has been bred for its significantly inflamed and more edible, less woody-textured edible taproot, but is still the similar species.

It is a biennial plant which grows a rosette of leaves in the spring and summer, while building up the stout taproot, which stores huge amounts of sugars for the plant to flower in the second year. The flowering stem grows to about 1 m tall, with an umbel of white flowers.

Carrots are dietetic heroes, they store a success of nutrients. No other vegetable or fruit restrains as much carotene as carrots, which the body adapts to vitamin A. This is a really adaptable vegetable and an outstanding source of vitamins B and C as well as calcium pectate, an amazing pectin fibre that has been found to have cholesterol-lowering properties. The carrot is an herbaceous plant containing about 87% water, rich in mineral salts and vitamins (B,C,D,E).

Raw carrots are an tremendous source of vitamin A and potassium; they contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamine, folic acid, and magnesium. Cooked carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, a good source of potassium, and contain vitamin B6, copper, folic acid, and magnesium. The high level of beta-carotene is very essential and gives carrots their distinguishing orange colour. Carrots also hold, in smaller amounts, essential oils, carbohydrates and nitrogenous composites. They are well-known for their sweetening, antianaemic, healing, diuretic, remineralizing and tranquilizing properties.

Medicinal Uses

Just for your information, herbs (including carrots) do not heal, they feed. Herbs do not force the body to maintain and repair itself. They basically sustain the body in these natural functions.

Carrots are endorsed with many medicinal properties; they are said to purify the intestines and to be diuretic, remineralizing, antidiarrheal, an overall tonic and antianemic. Carrot is rich in alkaline elements which purify and rejuvenate the blood. They nourish the entire system and help in the preservation of acid-alkaline balance in the body. The carrot also has a reputation as a vegetable that helps to preserve good eyesight. Raw grated carrot can be applied as a reduce to burns for a soothing effect. Its highly revitalizing juice has a mainly beneficial effect on the liver. Consumed in unwarranted quantities, carrots can cause the skin to turn yellow; this phenomenon, which is called Carotenemia and caused by the carotene contained in carrots, is regularly seen in young children but is not at all dangerous.

Source: http://www.wikipedia.org, http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk
Photo: www.sustainweb.org