Carrots
Juicy Trivia
Did you know carrots are a member of the parsley family? Originally carrots were purple or black. The 'modern day' orange carrot that we all know and love was actually a mutant strain!
Carrots get their bright orange colour from their high concentration of Vitamin A (beta carotene). Of all the commonly consumed vegetables, carrots are the highest source of provitamin A. In fact a single carrot contains twice the RDA (Recommended Daily Amount) of Vitamin A.
Drinking too much carrot juice (and we mean A LOT of it) can turn your skin orange (think TOWIE!). So carrot juice is more than just a nutritious drink, it also beats a spray tan (if you like a bright orange glow!!).
Jason Says...
'Crapple' - This is not me being rude, but it's what the combination of apple and carrot juice is commonly referred to as. This is a classic combination and is found in most juice bars around the world. Carrots, along with apples and pineapple, are a great 'base' juice and mix really well with other vegetable or fruit juices. This winning combination it naturally sweet, simple to make and nutritionally dense.
Juice or Smoothie?
Juice: Carrots should always be Juiced. Many studies have shown how much more bio-available the nutrients are to the body once juiced compared to eating.
Juicy Benefits
Carrots are well renowned as the 'anti-cancer kings' of the vegetable world. They contain some amazing antioxidants including alpha-carotene, lutein, beta-carotene and lycopene to name a few. However beta-carotene is the 'daddy' of all nutrients when it comes to its cancer preventing properties. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A. It is believed that beta-carotene can break down the protective mucous membrane around cancer cells.
Carrots are an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which along with beta-carotene all concentrate in the retina of the eyes. Hence why they are best known for helping eyesight, or as the old fable goes, for 'helping us to see in the dark' (although we don't believe that one has been scientifically proven yet!)
Carrots also enhance the overall function of our immune system by increasing the production and performance of our white blood cells. They may also be beneficial in reducing high cholesterol levels.
The beta-carotene found in carrots is known to be highly protective for the heart and cardiovascular system. It does this by helping to protect the structural integrity of the inner lining of the blood vessels, therefore helping to reduce ruptures and injury that could lead to the formation of clots.
Research
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has suggested that eating 200 grams of raw carrot with breakfast each day for 3 weeks significantly reduced serum cholesterol by 1%, increased fecal bile acid and fat excretion by 50%, and modestly in-creased stool weight by 25%. This suggests an associated change in bacterial flora or me-tabolism. The changes in serum cholesterol, fecal bile acids, and fat persisted 3 weeks after stopping treatment.
A study carried out by the National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan on the effect of eating carrots on immunoglobulin E production and anaphylactic response in mice. The findings suggest that eating carrots improves the helper T cell (Th)1/Th2 balance, inhibiting specific IgE production and antigen-induced anaphylactic response.
Vitamins, Minerals and Extras
Vitamins A, B, C, E, K and Beta-Carotene.
Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Chromium, Magnesium, Sodium, Chlorine, Zinc, Iodine and Silica.
Alpha-Carotene, Lutein, Lycopene, Glutathione, Gamma-Carotene, Zeaxanthin and Xanthophyll.
References
Pinnock, Dale, 2011, Medical Cookery, Right Way, London.
Jensen, Bernard.Dr, 2000, Juicing Therapy, Keats Publishing, Illinois.
Meyerowitz, Steve, 2000, Power Juices Super Drinks, Kensington Books, New York.
www.enwikipedia.org
www.juicebenefits.net
www.healthalternatives2000.com
www.ajcn.nutrition.org
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer
Please be aware that we are not Doctors, so it is important BEFORE making any changes that you consult with your GP or Medical Practitioner. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, nor a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.