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Crazy For Carrots

Bugs Bunny coveted them, Peter Rabbit stole them from Mr. McGregor’s garden, Roger Rabbit ate a cosmic variety... Carrots are often hailed as the most popular root vegetable because they are sweet, juicy, crunchy, healthy and can bring variety to your recipe rotation. The word "carrot" was first recorded in English around 1530 and was borrowed from Middle French word “carotte”, meaning root horn, due to its horn-like shape. In the 17th century, Dutch growers cultivated orange carrots as a tribute to William of Orange – who led the struggle for Dutch independence – and the color stuck. At one time, carrots were grown for their leaves and seeds rather than for their roots.

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Articles of Interest

Are Baby Carrots as Healthful as Other Carrots?

The popular one-pound bags of small carrots you find in grocery stores — often labeled “cut and peeled baby carrots” or “baby style” — are basically just as nutritious as other carrots. They are just regular carrots that have been peeled, washed and chopped into two-inch pieces to create easy-to-eat finger food.

Boiling carrots whole boosts health benefits, researchers find

Medical properties can be enhanced if vegetables are not diced before cooking, experiments show.

Carrots Can’t Help You See in the Dark. Here’s How a World War II Propaganda Campaign Popularized the Myth

The British government claimed that eating carrots helped its fighter pilots shoot down German planes at night. In truth, the Royal Air Force relied on top-secret radar.

Do Carrots Really Help Your Vision?

We've all been sold the bill of goods that carrots improve eyesight. Yet many faithful crunchers still find themselves squinting at street signs. So, do carrots actually help us see better? Absolutely, according to ophthalmologist Rebecca Taylor, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology — and one of the most enthusiastic carrot champions around. "There's a reason why these adages become adages: in large part because they're true," says Taylor. "When you eat a carrot, you're helping your body take a light source [and interpret it]. ... That makes food pretty darn important. That's the stuff that will keep me up at night, it's so exciting."

Don’t discard those nutritious carrot tops

Not only do they add a depth of flavour and complexity to a dish, they also aid digestion.

Health Benefits of Carrots

According to a scientist at Tufts University, “Carrots are so much a part of our diet that their health benefits may have been overlooked.”

How carrots get their trademark orange color

In about the 15th or 16th century, orange carrots made their appearance in western Europe, potentially as the result of crossing a yellow carrot with a white one. The bright color and sweet flavor of orange carrots likely made it more popular than other varieties, so farmers continued selecting for them. In northern Europe, different types of orange carrots were developed in the 16th and 17th centuries and orange carrots of various shades can be seen in paintings from that area. They continued to grow in popularity as more understanding about the importance of alpha- and beta-carotenes and vitamin A in the diet for eye health progressed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I Drank Carrot Juice Every Day for a Month to Get a Tan, and This Is the Result

After about three weeks I could already see a difference—and a subtle tint in my skin. As Dr. Merkel had warned, the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet were also tinted. And as predicted, the tint was more orange than olive.

Monday’s medical myth: eating carrots will improve your eyesight

Getting enough vitamin A is important for healthy eyes. And carrots are a rich and natural source of this vitamin, which is basically a group of chemicals made up of retinal (the active form of vitamin A) and carotenes such as beta-carotene (which gives carrots their distinctive colour). But a diet overloaded with carrots – and vitamin A – won’t leave you with healthier eyes.

Snacking on baby carrots could have serious health benefits, research shows

Seeing in the dark, making you live longer… is there anything carrots can’t do?

The Amazing Health Benefits of Carrots

The carrot has been a part of the human diet for a long time, but archaeological evidence suggests that it may have started out in more of a medicinal role. After first being cultivated for food in central Asia around 1000 CE, carrots eventually made their way to China and Europe a few centuries later. But even as the carrot has become a well-known veggie ingredient in salads, cooked dishes, baked goods, and even as an ingredient in pet foods, it remains at its core a root vegetable that is loaded with nutrients that offer a variety of health benefits.

The Health Benefits of Carrot Juice—Plus How It Compares to Whole Carrots

"Overall, carrot juice is a nutrient-dense and convenient option, particularly for boosting eye and immune health," says Begdache. This is due to its high content of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin C. "Whole carrots are better suited for long-term fullness, digestion, and blood sugar control," she notes. Including both versions in a balanced diet can offer the best of both worlds, she says.

The power of carrots

Three health benefits of carrots and their versatility in the kitchen.

This One Meal Has All The Retinol You Need

The saying “you are what you eat” goes back centuries—possibly all the way back to ancient Greek. After all, what we put into our bodies has the power to impact our health, mood, and overall wellbeing.

What Are Carrots Good For? Benefits Beyond Just a Great Snack

Carrots are low in calories, high in fiber content, and have a low glycaemic index, which makes them a nutritious and satisfying option for those seeking to manage their weight or achieve weight loss.

What's up with carrots? Let's root out the truth

If you think of carrots as stodgy old tubers, something more fit for rabbits than healthy humans, you're in for a bunch of surprises. Carrots can be a significant source of crucial nutrients, said Sherry Tanumihardjo, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. These days, they're popping up in a whole palette of colors. They're also convenient and versatile. "You can just take them out of the ground, wash them and eat them, just like that, or you can peel them and cut them up," she said. "You can slice them and dice them into all kinds of foods."

Yes, carrots are good for you. But there is one downside of overconsumption

But it isn't all good news. The beta carotene in carrots is what gives the vegetable their color, but it can also affect people. "Consuming too many carrots may cause your skin to turn orange in color over time - a condition called carotenemia," says Schaefer. "This can be reversed by reducing how often you eat foods containing carotene in your diet." She also adds that this is a more common occurrence in infants and young children, and its happening, "is not a sign of toxicity."

Resources

7 Reasons Why You Need to Include Carrots in Your Daily Diet

Carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables. It is a rich source of vitamin C, D, E, and K as well as minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium.