Characteristics of carrots
This vegetable belongs to the celery family, is found on all continents, but most of all it is cultivated in Europe, Southwest and Central Asia, especially in the Mediterranean region. In natural wild conditions, these plants grow in meadows, pastures, dry and rocky slopes and on the rocks of the sea coasts.
Carrots were known in ancient Asia, but in those days they were not as tasty and sweet as they are today. After many years of experience, it was only in the 16th century that varieties were bred whose taste was worthy of gastronomic interest.
Carrots were originally grown for their aromatic seeds and leaves, which were used medicinally, rather than for the roots themselves. Now they are the most sought after part of the vegetable.
What does a carrot look like
Carrot ordinary in the first year of vegetation forms a rosette of leaves and a thick root. The stem is erect, branched, hollow inside and hairy. The leaves are even, pinnate.
The root of the carrot is edible. Cultivars range in color from white to orange-red (richest in carotene) and purple. Carrots from dark purple to black are already available for sale. Carrot leaves are flat, pinnate.
How to grow seeds from carrots? In the second year, an inflorescence appears from the root from June to autumn. The flowers are small, white, collected at the top of the plant in umbrellas. Flowers collected in umbrellas are pollinated by insects that collect nectar from them. A plant that produces seeds consumes the reserve substances contained in the root and dies.
Additional Information! Varieties of carrots are distinguished by the duration of the growing season, storage, shape and size of the root. Roots can be spherical, oval, conical, cylindrical and fusiform. Their length is in the range of 4-35 cm, and the diameter is 3-7 cm.
Carrot roots are rich in carotenoids and can be orange (contains alpha and beta carotene), yellow (contains lutein), white, black, purple (contains anthocyanins) or dark red (contains lycopene).
Carotenoids are essential for the proper functioning of vision.
Carrot care
Carrots are not difficult to grow, but require a few important treatments. It makes high demands on the soil. The land should be fertile, humus, light and permeable, with constant moderate soil moisture.
With too much nitrogen, the roots can be twisted, and instead of one there will be several, often crooked.
From the moment the carrots are planted and throughout the entire period of their intensive growth, it is extremely important to water the crop, unless of course it rains. The earth cannot dry out too much. The substrate should be moderately moist.
Carrots do not have high heat requirements, but the temperature level and amount of sun have their consequences. At too low temperatures, the roots will be long and thin, and at too high temperatures, thick and short. Ideal will be when the temperature during the growing season is between 15 and 21°C.
Note! The peculiarities of carrots are that the more sun, the more intense the color of carrots will be, it will be sweeter and richer in carotene.
An important point in cultivation is the loosening of the soil between the rows, in order to obtain better access to water to the roots. Carrots grow better in loose soil, do not tolerate compacted substrates.
Carrot seeds are sown directly into the ground, in moist soil, to a depth of 1-2 cm, with a row spacing of 15-30 cm. They are very small, they are easier to sow when mixed with sand. Sowing carrots is carried out at a soil temperature of at least 7 ° C.
Carrots take a long time to germinate, so a lot of weeds grow around them. And since the vegetable is very sensitive to weed infestation, the soil must be systematically cleaned.
If the carrots were sown too densely, small plants are removed after germination. For early carrots, the interval should be 3 cm, for later – 3-5 cm.
Carrots: health benefits
The product must be present constantly in the diet of each person. It is worth eating it in any form – both raw and boiled as an ingredient in salads, an addition to main dishes, soups, in the form of juice, etc. The most useful carrots are always raw, low in calories and rich in nutrients. Carrots calorie content: contains only 41 kcal per 100 g, therefore it is recommended for diets that reduce body weight. Boiled carrots have three times the glycemic index.
Daily consumption of carrots improves eyesight. It has a positive effect on vision, strengthens the immune system, protects against cardiovascular diseases, prevents atherosclerosis, and reduces heavy bleeding during menstruation.
Carrots are a very popular vegetable that can be eaten all year round. This vegetable contains dietary fiber that regulates bowel function.
First of all, it is a great source of carotenoids, which is provitamin A, which in the human body turns into vitamin A, which is necessary for the proper functioning of vision.
composition of carrots. In addition to beta-carotene (provitamin A), carrots contain vitamins C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K and minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc.
Regular consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids also reduces the risk of cancer. Carrots are high in antioxidants. A substance that can also be found in carrots is falcarinol, which has a positive effect on cancer prevention. This compound is also found in other vegetables, while carrots definitely have the most. It has been proven that carrot juice kills leukemia cells and also inhibits their further development.
Note! To take full advantage of the benefits of beta-carotene and vitamin E, carrots should be paired with a small amount of fat, such as butter or vegetable oil.
Organic carrots also have a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol levels, due to the content of certain vitamins and pectin, which has anti-atherosclerotic properties.
Carrots are used in herbal medicine as an aid in the early stages of atherosclerosis. Carrot extract is also used for mild and chronic forms of coronary heart disease. Flavonoids contained in carrots have an antispasmodic effect on the coronary vessels and reduce blood flow to the heart.
Fresh organic carrot root contains sulfur compounds called bifido that stimulate the growth of bacteria beneficial to our intestinal bacterial flora. For this reason, freshly squeezed carrot juice is useful for digestive disorders, especially in children. Fresh carrot juice can be given from an early age.
With the regular use of juice and other products from carrots, the natural immunity of children is strengthened, which reduces the occurrence of viral and bacterial diseases. Its use accelerates the healing of acne wounds.
Can organic carrots be harmful?
If our skin turns slightly orange, it means that the liver is not able to break down the incoming amount of beta-carotene, and therefore it is overloaded. Therefore, you should limit the consumption of all orange fruit vegetables and their juices.
Boiled carrots also have a fairly high glycemic index, which means that their sugar concentration can increase rapidly after consumption, which is not good for people with diabetes and dieters. In such cases, carrots in the form of carrot salad are preferable.
Carrots for beautiful and healthy skin
Carrot root is credited with rejuvenating, cleansing and antidepressant effects. Cosmetic properties slow down the aging process of the skin, rejuvenates and regenerates it.
Regular use of a carrot mask rejuvenates the skin, smoothes wrinkles and fights the appearance of free radicals.
A good way to strengthen skin and hair is to make a carrot mask at home, which smoothes the skin and gives strength and shine to the hair.
To take advantage of the anti-aging properties of carrots, you should not only take care of proper nutrition, but also regularly apply masks for skin care. They are easy to make and do not have to wait long for the effect. It is enough to mix carrot juice with, for example, 2 tablespoons of a dairy product, and apply all this on the face for about 20 minutes.
Recipe : Mix cooked carrots with yogurt. Apply the prepared slurry on the face and hair. However, it should be remembered that the dyes contained in carrots can stain blond hair and skin.
The properties of beta-carotene take care of the healthy appearance of the skin. The substances not only nourish our skin, as a result of eating carrots, a dye accumulates in our body, which acts as a natural sunscreen, reflecting the unfavorable rays that cause spots. As a result of the use of beta-carotene, the skin looks slightly tanned, which can be a substitute for sunbathing for people suffering from skin allergies from the sun.
Carrots for wrinkles. However, beta-carotene must be consumed constantly to look beautiful and young. This miraculous compound protects collagen fibers, the condition of which is very important in the aging process of the skin. With a lack of beta-carotene, these fibers are slowly destroyed, causing the skin to lose elasticity and wrinkles appear.
Carrot oil has many uses and is also used in cosmetics. It has toning and anti-aging properties. This is a natural self-tanner that strengthens the skin and repairs dry hair.
The effect of the oil will be appreciated by the owners of mature skin and skin that is losing elasticity. Fatty acids are very beneficial for hair and nails. Applying oil to your hair is undoubtedly one of the strongest trends that carrot oil can be used for.
It does not lack the mineral compounds (iron, calcium, zinc, copper) of vitamins B1, B2, K, C, E and PP contained in the oil. Each of these ingredients promotes skin regeneration, fights the formation of free radicals, and even speeds up wound healing.
Carrots are good for eyesight
A natural source of vitamin A – carotene contained in carrots, has a beneficial effect on our eyes. With prolonged work at the computer, vision quickly deteriorates, and the eyes get sick, so you should eat carrots for prevention. Vitamin A protects the eyes from excessive drying and also improves vision.
It is very important that the carrots we eat come from trusted sources, preferably from local vegetable growers. Carrots grown with the use of artificial fertilizers lose many valuable properties, and can even lead to poisoning with increased use.
Carrots are cheap and easy to grow, so plant them in your garden and enjoy the natural flavor.
