Health Topic of the Day: Carrots and Beta-Carotene

I am in the process of educating myself on the healing capabilities of foods. For the next couple of weeks I will be blogging about a different fruit or vegetable so that you can learn more about the foods you are eating.

Carrots: Carrots are high in minerals, which means they are especially good to eat in the winter, and are good for the liver, blood, stomach, immune system, and heart. Carrots are also high in beta-carotene, which is the antioxidant that give carrots their bright color. If Vitamin A reserves are low beta-carotene, is converted into Vitamin A in the intestinal wall and liver.
Beta-carotene also has the capability to:

1. Soak up and make harmless the dangerous by-products of metabolism and pollution known as free radicals
2. Protect against cancers of the lungs, stomach, and mouth
3. Helps to increase the absorption of iron (very important for vegetarians or those that are anemic)
4. Helps with night vision

How you can sneak more carrots into your diet: 
Make some hummus and eat with carrots as a dip.
Dip carrots in almond or cashew butter.
Add carrots to pancake or cupcake batter
Add some carrots to your salads, sandwiches, and rice dishes.
Sautee some carrots in olive oil over medium heat, and sprinkle with spices. Beta-carotene is best absorbed by the body when lightly cooked with fat.