Carrots

Because my diet is incredibly similar to that of a rabbit’s, (hehe) you’ll often find carrots in my fridge! They are sweet, crunchy, and easy to incorporate into many dishes. I love them roasted, steamed, raw, pureed, juiced, in smoothies, and sneaked into baked goods like muffins, cookies, and breads. They are a perfect on-the-go snack and ideal for lunch boxes for kids (and adults) of all ages.

  • Carrots are a great source of the antioxidant, beta-carotene, as well as many other key antioxidants. These little guys work together to keep our body free from oxidative stress and gross free radicals that damage our cells.
  • In fact, two carrots provide about 4,050 retinol equivalents, or about four times the recommended daily amount of Vitamin A. This is necessary for reducing inflammation in the body and providing support to the immune system.
  • In a recent study from the Netherlands, carrots were proven to help lower cardiovascular disease, most likely due to all the glorious antioxidants within them.
  • Remember the old wives tale that carrots improve your vision? It may be true. According to a study at the Jules Stein Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles, women who ate carrots at least twice per week – in comparison to women who ate carrots less than once per week – had significantly lower rates of glaucoma.
  • Diets high in carotene intake have been linked to a 20 percent decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer and up to a 50 percent decrease of cancer in the cervix, bladder, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophagus.

Vegukate Tips:

No need to buy organic, but organic carrots tend to taste far better in my opinion, especially when they are freshest in the summer and fall.

If carrots still have greens attached, cut them off before storing. Wrap carrots in paper towels and place in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. Carrots will keep this way for up to a month.