Carrots are perceived as a common food in the daily diet of a person, but few people know that this vegetable is also very useful. Consider when, in what form and quantity it is necessary to use a root crop in order to get the maximum benefit for the body.
Did you know? Initially, carrots had a purple color, the usual orange variety was obtained only in the XYII century. Dutch breeders.
Description and chemical composition of carrots
Carrots are a very ancient cultivated culture, whose homeland is Afghanistan. The first European countries where root crops began to be used were Spain and France. Root crops, depending on the variety, can have a weight of from 50 to 300 g, the shape is elongated, conical, less often cylindrical.
The pulp of a vegetable consists of two parts - the shell and the core, which vary in composition, color and density. The core is usually juicy and hard, but less sweet, so breeders try to breed varieties with a small core in diameter.
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Did you know? Initially, carrots were grown and eaten as a spice, for this purpose the tops and seeds of the plant were collected and dried, root vegetables were consumed later.
Useful properties of carrots for the body
- The use of root vegetables can have a positive effect on the human body, which is represented by:
- improving respiratory function;
- treatment of eye diseases (conjunctivitis, blepharitis);
- strengthening teeth, gums;
- maintaining healthy skin and mucous membranes;
- treatment of vitamin deficiencies;
- preventing liver problems;
- strengthening vascular walls and heart muscle;
- reduced risk of cancer;
- antibacterial effects on the body, a decrease in the number of bacteria in the mouth after the consumption of root crops;
- diuretic and choleretic effects;
- antioxidant properties;
- improving brain function, increasing concentration;
- strengthening the bone tissue of the body;
- increasing the body's resistance to colds and viral diseases;
- improving blood composition, slowing down the aging process.
How to eat carrots
Depending on the form in which carrots will be consumed, there are certain norms and characteristics of consumption. Consider how to eat root vegetables, the main advantages and disadvantages of using raw, boiled product and vegetable juice.
Boiled
The digestibility of cooked vegetables is much better than raw, but the amount of vitamins after cooking is significantly reduced, and it becomes less useful. The main advantage of the cooked product is the high content of antioxidants, which is very appreciated in the treatment of certain diseases. A vegetable that has undergone heat treatment has a laxative effect, therefore it can carefully relieve constipation. The optimal amount of root crops consumed per day is up to 300 g in boiled form.
Raw
Raw root vegetables are recommended to be definitely added to the diet, as it contains the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals that are destroyed during the heat treatment. The downside of consuming raw vegetables is the presence of coarse fiber, which is digested by the body for a long time, therefore it is dangerous for exacerbations of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. To get the maximum benefit from the consumption of vegetables, you must follow the recommendations. On a day, an adult healthy person can eat no more than 300 g of root crops, which is equivalent to 3-4 small units.
Important! To eat carrots in raw form, it is recommended to choose small vegetables, they contain more vitamins and taste sweeter.
Carrot juice
Carrot juice, compared with a raw product, has a milder effect on the gastrointestinal tract due to the lack of coarse fiber. The good digestibility of carotene, which is contained in the juice, requires you to adhere to the recommendations for drinking. Excessive intake can lead to an excessive load on the liver. The optimal rate of juice consumption is no more than 250 ml per day.
What is the best digestible carrot in the body
A large amount of carotene, which is rich in carrots, is not absorbed when a vegetable is consumed in its pure form, but there are several ways to solve the problem. So that the root crop is better absorbed by the body, and it receives the necessary amount of vitamin A (carotene), it is recommended to consume the vegetable with fatty additives or products (with butter and vegetable oil, sour cream, cheeses, nuts). The process of assimilation is also influenced by the way the product is used: for example, boiled vegetable and juice are absorbed better and faster than fresh.
Important! Carrots should be stored without tops, since the leaves take a certain amount of moisture from the root crop, it fades faster, and juiciness decreases.
How to choose and store carrots
When choosing carrots to purchase a quality product, pay attention to the peel of the vegetable. Its surface should be smooth, without damage, ulcers, signs of disease and exposure to pests. To the touch, a quality product is solid and dense. Inspect the area near the tops or the place where it was previously, it should not be green or red.
You can keep a young vegetable fresh and juicy for a long time by wrapping each unit in a pimpled polyethylene and sending it to the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment or on the lower shelf. Storage of a large amount of the crop takes place in the cellar, in wooden boxes. A high level of humidity in the cellar will prevent the vegetable from drying out, and a low temperature will prevent the growth of bacteria that cause rot.
Possible contraindications
Many people are interested in the question of whether everyone can eat carrots or are there contraindications, so we will consider this information in more detail.
- Contraindications to the consumption of carrots are:
- the presence of allergic reactions to root crops;
- the presence of kidney stones;
- chronic liver disease;
- gastrointestinal tract diseases during exacerbation.
Some recommend drinking carrot juice on an empty stomach, but it is absolutely impossible to do this, we will figure out why. Root juice in its pure form contains substances that cause irritation of the intestinal mucosa with diarrhea and unpleasant belching. However, if you are tormented by a problem with constipation, grated root vegetables mixed with other vegetables can be eaten on an empty stomach to achieve a laxative effect.
You can also consume a small amount of boiled product as an addition to breakfast, and add juice to the smoothie with cereals that envelop the gastric mucosa. Thus, carrots are recommended to be added to the daily diet in a boiled, fresh form or drink vegetable juice. In order to get only benefit and not harm the body, it is necessary to follow the recommendations on the use of root crops, which are described in detail in the article.
