Improves Vision Power :Western culture’s understanding of carrots being “good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.
Macular degeneration :Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.
Antiseptic :Carrots have antiseptic qualities and therefore, can be used as laxative, vermicide and as remedy for liver conditions.
Regulates blood :Carrot can help improve eyesight and regulate blood sugar.
Breast milk regeneration :Carrot can enhance the quality of breast milk and appearance of the skin, hair and nails.
Cancer Prevention :Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.
Antioxidant :The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of cells.
Healthy Glowing Skin :Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone
Healthy Teeth and Gums :It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
Cleanse the Body :Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
Others :By drinking carrot juice on a regular basis,it provides a natural way to build immunity against colds, flu, germs, and infections.Lower cholesterol,blood pressure and prevent cancer.
Face Pack for oily and normal skin : Cook the carrots.After cooling mash them.Mix it with honey to make a paste.Stir 1 tbsp of olive oil and squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice into the face mask mixture.Mix mineral water to provide the face mask with a creamy consistency. However, do not add too much of water as the face mask would then become too watery.Gently apply over your face.Leave it on for 15 minutes.When dry, rinse off with cool water.
Prevents wrinkles :Carrot juice also helps to reduce blemishes and prevents wrinkles too.
Be cautious :The humble carrot, familiar fare for Bugs Bunny and armies of school children, can be a dangerous, even lethal, snack for a small number of people. Heating the carrot, however, can render them harmless to the allergic, according to a recent study.
Itching :Itching and allergies can happen in your mouth.
Skin Problems :Over eating of Carrot (carotene pigment) will make your skin look orange, a condition referred to as "carotenemia." Alarming but not dangerous, this orange color can take up to three weeks to show up in your skin.
When selecting, look for carrots that are uniform in colour from top to bottom and whose skin is smooth and free of cracks. The carrots may be slightly green at the crown but a dark colouring at the crown indicates that the carrots are getting old. Generally the carrots found readily available are long and slender but there are also varieties that are short and fat. Whatever variety is being purchased, all the carrots should be uniform in size, shape and color. When selecting carrots that still have the stems attached, select those that have fresh looking greens. Avoid carrots that have begun to sprout, that have blemishes, soft spots, or large green areas at the crown, and any that have become limp.
Carrots can be stored for several months in the refrigerator or over winter in a moist, cool place. For long term storage, unwashed carrots can be placed in a bucket between layers of sand, a 50/50 mix of sand and wood shavings, or in soil. A temperature range of 32 to 40 °F (0 to 5 °C) is best
Storage :Carrots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month if stored properly. To prevent condensation from forming, wrap the carrots in a paper towel and then place them in a bag in the refrigerator, or use a perforated plastic bag. Excess moisture will cause them to rot. If the carrots still have the greens attached, cut them off 2 inches above the crown to prevent them from drawing moisture out of the carrots. Do not store carrots next to ethylene gas producing fruits, such as apples and pears. The ethylene gas they release speeds up the ripening process of other fruits and vegetables. Carrots can also be stored unwashed and covered by sand. If stored in this manner in a dark, cool, well ventilated area, the carrots will last up to 5 or 6 months. They can also be left in the ground, covered with mulch, and used as needed until the ground begins to freeze. Carrots can also be peeled, cut up, blanched, and then frozen to preserve them for approximately a year.
Usage :This vegetable is used in different ways of Cooking and even in more areas as a different substitute.
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About the Vegetable :Carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour and also many Varieties available in the market,( purple, red, white, and yellow varieties are generally used for cooking). It has a crisp texture when fresh. The most commonly eaten part of a carrot is a taproot, although the greens are sometimes eaten as well.Carrot grows a rosette of leaves in the spring and summer, while building up the stout tap root that stores large amounts of sugars for the plant to flower in the second year.carrot seedlings show a distinct demarcation between the taproot and the hypocotyl. The latter is thicker and lacks lateral roots. At the upper end of the hypocotyl is the seed leaf. The first true leaf appears about 10–15 days after germination.
Scientific / Binomial name : Daucus carota
Popularly Known as :Gazzar, Gazar, Gajar
Usage :Carrots can be eaten in a variety of ways such as pulping, cooking and adding cooking oil. In India carrots are used in a variety of ways, as salads or as vegetables added to spicy rice or dal dishes. A popular variation in north India is the Gajar Ka Halwa carrot dessert, which has carrots grated and cooked in milk until the whole mixture is solid, after which nuts and butter are added.Carrot salads are usually made with grated carrots with a seasoning of mustard seeds and green chillies popped in hot oil. Carrots can also be cut in thin strips and added to rice, can form part of a dish of mixed roast vegetables or can be blended with tamarind to make chutney.[Alternatively they may be chopped and boiled, fried or steamed, and cooked in soups and stews, as well as baby and pet foods. A well-known dish is carrots julienne.Together with onion and celery, carrots are one of the primary vegetables used in a mirepoix to make various broths.
