Carrot yields are amazing... Sowing a garden bed with a 20-gram bag of seeds, in 3.5-4 months you can collect several hundred kilograms of this root crop. Not a single first course is complete without carrots. Sweet and spicy salads are also made from it, added to preserves and pickles. But carrots are famous not only for their yield and distribution in cooking. She heals many diseases, and not only the root crop is useful, but also the ground part - the tops.
Composition: what vitamins and minerals are contained in the tops and root crops
Carrots contain many vitamins and minerals that act both individually and in concert with each other.
What vitamins are contained:
- A (formed in the human body as a result of the breakdown of beta-carotene, according to the content of which carrots are in second place after sea buckthorn) - strengthens the cells of the upper layer of the skin, stimulates the activity of optic nerve neurons;
- K - stimulates the synthesis of leukocytes and platelets, accelerates tissue regeneration;
- D (- synthesized when ultraviolet radiation hits the skin) - strengthens bone and cartilage tissue;
- E (natural antioxidant) - slows down the aging process of cells;
- C - gives the skin elasticity, breaks down fats, increases immunity, hypoallergenic;
- B1, B6 - create a favorable environment for intestinal microflora.
Minerals:
- potassium - relaxes the heart muscle, strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- calcium - speeds up the heartbeat, strengthens bone and cartilage tissue;
- iron (part of the hemoglobin protein) - participates in the transport of oxygen throughout the body;
- magnesium - strengthens blood vessels and heart muscle;
- phosphorus (part of the retina and cornea) - improves visual acuity;
- essential oils (flavonoids, phytoncides) - antiseptic effect;
- in small quantities - cobalt, iodine, manganese, zinc.
The composition of carrot tops includes:
- selenium - strengthens the skin, slows down the aging process;
- sucrose - easily absorbed without raising the total blood sugar level (irreplaceable in diabetes mellitus);
- a nicotinic acid - improves the functioning of the brain;
- caffeine - invigorates, increases blood pressure;
- for vitamins - little vitamin B, but there is vitamin P - strengthens the hair follicles and normalizes the acid-base balance.
Composition and benefits of carrots:
Benefit and harm
Useful properties of carrots and carrot juice for the human body
The maximum amount of minerals and vitamins is found in the upper part of the root vegetable, as well as in the skin.
When frozen, useful and medicinal properties are preserved. Heat treatment increases the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
The exception is vitamin C - when heat treated above 80oC, ascorbic acid decomposes.
Carrots are indicated in the following cases:
- colitis, except ulcerative or accompanied by suppuration;
- normalizes the composition of the intestinal microflora at 1-2 stages of dysbiosis;
- helps to cope with non-infectious cystitis and other non-infectious nephritis in the early stages;
- carrot juice can be dripped with a cold;
- with diabetes mellitus, boiled carrots normalizes sugar levels;
- carrot juice helps with sclerosis;
- in any form is effective for inflammation of internal organs, gums.
Ulcers and oncological diseases are classified as indications and contraindications.... Based on the composition, in case of cancer, it is necessary to limit the use of carrots and carrot tops - the regeneration of cells, including cancer cells.
For ulcers it is not recommended if there is purulent discharge... Carrots themselves have a tendency to rot, especially when the intestines are stagnant.
For preventive purposes, eat 100-150 g of raw root vegetables. To raise hemoglobin - drink 800 g of healing freshly squeezed carrot juice.
For children under one year old - 50 g of perfectly cooked carrot puree with 1 tsp. honey throughout the day. For kidney or gallstones - dilute the juice 1 to 1 with boiled water.
With stones, sand in the bile and or kidneys, pinworms in children under 3 years old, carrot juice should not be mixed with beet juice.
Carrot tops are strictly forbidden to use when pregnancy, increased arterial, intracranial, ocular pressure.
Contraindications for men, women and children
The main contraindication is allergy, mainly for carotene. Allergies to other ingredients are possible in men, women and children.
Carrots can harm:
- for gastrointestinal ulcers, do not eat raw roots;
- during pregnancy, an allergy may appear to an excessive amount of consumed carrots (more than 100 g per day);
- with significant damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa;
- an acute form of any gastrointestinal disease due to the high energy consumption for the breakdown of fiber;
- at 3-4 stages of dysbiosis.
Healing folk recipes
Anti-cellulite composition for massage... It is used in the presence of "goose bumps". For 200 g of carrot juice 250 g of candied (last year's) honey, 100 g of cabbage juice.
Boil the ingredients separately for 15 minutes in a water bath. Mix cooled down together. Let it brew for 8 hours in a warm place. Add 50 g softened butter. Insist 12 hours.
The composition is intended for professional massage therapists. When massage, apply in a thin layer. It is impossible with purulent formations, cracks in the skin.
Against pinworms... Mix 150 g of beetroot and 200 g of carrot juice with 1 head of finely grated garlic, one teaspoon of ground black pepper. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
Consume 30-50 g 2 times a day. It is forbidden for children under 6 years old, people with cardiovascular diseases, with stones, sand, high blood pressure, glaucoma, pregnancy, after a traumatic brain injury.
Children from 6 years old to 2 tbsp. in a day. From 12-14 - 20-30 g 2 times a day.
With low hemoglobin... Boil 300 g of carrot beetroot and pomegranate juice in a water bath. Add 0.5 liters of fresh honey to the boiling liquid. Insist 5-8 hours.
Drink 100 g 3-4 times a day. It is impossible with stones, sand, increased intracranial pressure, glaucoma. During pregnancy - 1 tbsp. 3 times a day. Drink 50 g 2 times a day.
Mask for brittle hair... Beat 1 egg with 2 tbsp. carrot juice and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to hair in a circular motion.
If you have dandruff, add 1 tbsp. sunflower oil. Keep the mask for no more than 15 minutes. The optimal time is 3-5 minutes.
Mask for dry hair ends with carrot juice and sunflower oil:
Rinse for dry hair... For 3 liters of boiling water, 0.5 kg of carrot tops, 4 tbsp. chamomile. Boil for 1 minute. Allow to cool. Rinse your hair.
For the treatment to take effect, it is worth adhering to a few simple tips:
- Before a massage using a composition containing carrot juice, do not eat carrots for 24 hours.
- The amount of product required for treatment depends on the physiological characteristics.
- For pain in the kidneys, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, you cannot combine carrot and beet juice. Replace beetroot with pomegranate.
- To get the most out of it, season the raw product with mayonnaise, sour cream, sunflower or olive oil. Fatty acids promote the absorption of carotene.
- Wash down salads with chamomile or mint tea.
How much to eat fresh per day for health benefits
Carrots are second only to sea buckthorn in terms of vitamin A.
The highest concentration of nutrients in the upper part of the root crop and in the skin. The maximum of useful substances is contained in a root vegetable weighing up to 150 g.
How many carrots should you eat per day for health benefits? Absorbed by the body per day no more than 150 g of fresh raw carrots, 250 g of boiled and 800 g of undiluted carrot juice.
Carrot tops are appliedmainly to strengthen and stimulate hair growth.