How Carrots Can Actually Help Heal Many Chronic Diseases
Did you know that carrots are a superfood? They contain beta carotene, which is the pigment in carrots. Beta carotene is the precursor to Vitamin A, which means that beta carotene only converts to vitamin A as our bodies need it. Beta carotene is only found in vegetables and to a lesser extent in fruits. The more intense the color of the veggie/fruit, the higher the beta carotene content. Beta carotene in carrots is also an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of certain cancers and protect your cells from damaging free radicals. Free radicals are believed to play a significant role in inflammation, disease, and aging.
In addition to beta carotene, carrots are a good source of fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and vitamin C.
Carrots in Skin Health
The beta carotene in carrots can protect our skin from the sun's UV rays. Beta carotene helps in repairing skin tissue and protects our skin from harmful radiation.
Carotenoids can prevent the decline of collagen, elastin, and fibrillin.
Carrots as an Immune Booster
Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, C, and B6, protecting our immune system from free radical damage.
Carrots in Liver Health
Carrots help keep our livers clean by reducing fatty acids. This can result in lower cholesterol levels.
The beta carotene in carrots stimulates bile flow and helps remove toxins from the liver. Carrots are a power horse for detoxing the liver!!
Carrots in Diabetes
Carrots contain Vitamin A and fiber, reducing blood sugar spikes. Carrots are low on the glycemic index due in part to their fiber content. Eating more fiber can lower blood glucose and help with insulin resistance.
Carrots in Heart health
The potassium in carrots can help regulate your blood pressure. The fiber in carrots can help with your weight and lower your cholesterol.
Carrots in Eye Health
And of course, carrots are great for your eyes. They contain an antioxidant called lutein. Lutein is a pigment called a carotenoid. Lutein is very good for your eyes and is one of the two carotenoids found in the macula and retina of the eye. (The other great eye carotenoid Zeaxanthin is in many other fruits and vegetables). Lutein increases the pigment density in the macula. The denser the retina, the lower your risk for macular degeneration.
Carrots in Brain Health
In the archives of internal medicine, a 2007 Harvard Medical School study shows that men who took beta carotene supplements for 15 years were much less likely to have cognitive decline than their counterparts. However, we now know that food sources are the best way to get our nutrients.
Because cognitive decline is thought to be caused by oxidative stress, it is crucial to eat foods rich in antioxidants.
Carrots are also high in luteolin. A study in the 2010 Journal of Medicine found that luteolin helped reduce inflammation in the brain.
Carrots in Cancer Healing
Free radicals cause inflammation and damage to your DNA, contributing to cancer development.
Because of carrots' high content of carotenoids, they are the perfect food to fight free radicals in your body.
Various studies have shown that eating carrots may play a major role in the prevention of gastric cancer. 1
Studies show that carrot juice reduces the chance of breast, colon, prostate, cervical, and bladder cancer. “Also, recently published research has shown that natural carotenoids in the diet leads to a normalization of body epithelial cells and protects against the risk of stomach and esophagus cancer, and improves the immune system's response.” 2
It only makes sense to flood your body with antioxidants as part of your natural cancer healing. That is where juicing carrots makes sense!
Carrots in cooking
Carrots with Drizzle Sauce
The ingredients
The Drizzle
Put drizzle ingredients in a small dish
1 TBS Date Syrup
3 TBS Flax Oil (or pumpkin)
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You can use any flax oil, but I highly recommend these guys for their fresh-tasting oils.
Instructions
Drizzle syrup/oil mixture on top of cooked carrots (Never heat flax oil as it can become oxidized).
Sprinkle Pumpkin Seeds on top.
Carrots in smoothies
I just throw a bunch of fruits and veggies in the blender and add my liquid vitamin C. So refreshing and gets my immune system revved up first thing in the morning! Of course, the liposomal vitamin C is not necessary, but very nutritious nonetheless! Plus, it adds a nice orange flavor to my smoothies.
Smoothie Ingredients suggestions:
Carrots
Pineapple
Celery
Oranges
Strawberries
Ginger
Mix in Liposomal Purality 1000 mg Vitamin C for an orangey flavor! Delicious!!
Carrots in juicing
Straight up Carrot Juice
Some people drink as much as 5 lbs of carrots a day in cancer treatment. That is approximately 32 fl. ounces of juice. I know people who even do 64 oz of carrot juice while treating cancer. Beware!! While not harmful, you may develop carotenemia. In other words, "You may turn orange!" Totally fine if you are working towards health, in my honest opinion!
Juice straight-up carrots, or add beets, celery, lemon, ginger, parsley, garlic...whatever! The list is endless. Throw in a bunch of veggies, and you are golden!
Carrot oil recipes
Grate carrots
Put the grated carrots in a jar
Add pumpkin oil to cover the grated carrots
Put lid on jar
Store in a cool/dark room for two weeks
After 2 weeks pour the mixture through a strainer
Put liquid in a jar with a tight lid
Store in refrigerator for 6- 8 months
Carrot oil is rich in vitamin A and can be used as a carrier oil. It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It can also be used for cooking if not using a heat-sensitive oil.
Here is the oil I highly recommend!! I like the pumpkin seed oil for this, but chia seed oil might also be lovely. I think I will go try that now…
Carrot Essential Oil
Carrot "essential" oil comes from the distillation of carrot seeds. There are naturally occurring properties in the oil, such as carotol, alpha-pinene, sabinene, and beta-caryophyllene. This oil has a non-greasy consistency and an earthy smell.
Carrot essential oil can aid in treating eczema and psoriasis when mixed with a fatty carrier oil, such as grapeseed or coconut oil. It also works as an excellent moisturizer or a soothing balm after a day in the sun. You can also add this essential oil to shampoo or conditioner to nourish your scalp.
Add Carrot Seed Vitality to food dishes. The vitality line is made for ingesting!! You can add to salad dressings, roasted veggies, smoothies, juice, etc.
Diffusing Essential Oils
Diffusing and inhaling essential oils is one of the safest ways to get the benefits of essential oils.
My very favorite oil to diffuse is this Bloom oil. It smells heavenly and has healing oils like Frankincense. It has carrot seed oil, too, giving it a unique earthy aroma.
Here are the ingredients in Bloom:
The blend combines Vetiver, Blue Cypress, Davana, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Clove, Jasmine, Carrot Seed, Spearmint, Geranium, and Sacred Frankincense. Those are some beautiful healing oils!
Fun carrot facts:
*Carrots have seeds
*Carrot leaves are edible
*Carrots come in many different colors
*Most carrots were purple before the 17th century
*Carrots can be traced back 5000 years
*There are approximately 40 different kinds of carrots
*Carrots were first used for medicine in Asia about 3000 years ago
*Carrots originated in modern-day Iran and Afghanistan
*The largest carrot that was ever grown measured 20 ft., 5.9 inches
*Approximately 2000 carrot seeds can fit in a teaspoon. They are THAT small!!
*Carrots are 88% water
*Carrot noses do not help snowmen breathe, but they would look silly without one
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are based on personal experiences, opinions, and my own research. Information on this website is for educational purposes and is not meant to diagnose, replace, treat or cure any medical or mental health condition. Please see your doctor with any health-related questions. Statements on this website have not been approved or evaluated by the FDA. While perusing this site, please use your best judgment in conjunction with your Naturopath or other health care provider.
