Carrots- Their Energetics And Medicinal Benefits

Next to potatoes, carrots are one of the most eaten roots in the world. Often one of the first solid foods given to babies, carrots are gentle and stabilizing to the digestive system. They have significant levels of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They grow easily in many climates without a huge use of resources and they store well. Endlessly versatile, carrots are both a simple and elegant food staple. They range in color from the familiar bright orange to the gorgeous purple and yellows of the heirloom varieties. Are you eating enough carrots?

Carrot’s history

Carrots (daucus carota) is a member of the umbellifer family, along with parsley, dill, cilantro, celery, and fennel. Originating from Persia, it is believed carrots were first used for the medicinal benefits of their leaves and seeds, not for their rough, fibrous roots that were originally deep purple or yellow. About 1,100 years ago, the Persians started growing carrots as a main root crop. They would make their way to Europe in the 1300’s. During the Victorian era, ladies would wear carrot tops in their hats a sign of prosperity. Over the years, carrots were cultivated to favor the bright orange carrots of today with a bigger, less fibrous tap root. The poor, humble carrot, is often sold without its top for aesthetic reasons. Fortunately, more and more farmer’s markets are popping up where you can get carrots in a range of colors with their tops.

Western nutritional highlights

Carrots are very high in beta carotene - that’s pre Vitamin A - a lack of which can lead to night blindness. They have significant amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, other vitamins and minerals, and fiber.

Eastern nutritional energetics and healing properties of carrots

Neutral and sweet nature - Neither heating nor cooling, carrots are a ‘Goldylocks’ food. They can be regularly eaten by most folks. In my years of working as a holistic nutritionist, I don’t know of anyone with a sensitivity or allergy to carrots. Their sweet nature isn’t overly sweet and is balanced with a bit of bitter and a high level of fiber that regulates blood sugar. Side note - a sweet flavor does not immediately denote that a food is going to spike your blood sugar. However, over-consumption of carrot juice (which will lack the fiber), can cause blood sugar problems. The sweet flavor corresponds with the Earth element, the season of Late Summer, and the Stomach and Spleen. It’s all about digestive stability.

Strengthens the Stomach & Spleen and treats digestive issues - All digestive issues from excess stomach acid, GERD, and heartburn, to poor assimilation, diarrhea or constipation, to parasites and worms. Their alkalizing nature helps to balance an overly acidic digestive system. If you want to heal and keep your digestive system strong - eat carrots. Chewing carrots helps to strengthen the teeth, which are important tools in the digestive process.

Clears and detoxes the Liver and Gallbladder – One of the Liver’s role in Asian medicine is to maintain the smooth and easy flow of Qi and Blood. Both can stagnate due to for a number of reasons, and carrot’s nature and unique ability to liquefy bile, and move stagnation making them useful in all Liver and Gallbladder patterns.

Helps remove waste, busts up accumulations and stones – Carrots move out toxins and congestion. They aid in the removal of parasites, round worms and putrefied bacteria, and can bust up stones and accumulations. They help to soften masses and tumors, and fiber cleans the colon and helps move the bowels.

Benefits vision – This is a fun one. There’s a bit of bickering about whether carrots help with vision or not. The ‘myth’ that carrots cure night vision arose during WWII. Now, many sources soundly denounce that carrots help vision at all. However, it is known that a lack of beta carotene (provitamin A) can cause or contribute to lack of night vision. Carrots have one of the highest sources of beta carotene. From a food energetics perspective, carrot’s actions on the Liver which opens to the eyes, moves stasis and nourishes blood - lands them squarely in benefiting vision in my book.

Benefits the Lungs, skin, and the immune system - Mmmhmmm…here’s one we don’t often think of - carrots help you fight off colds, flu and skin pathologies. Beside their energetic nature, that glorious Vit A reduces inflammation of all mucus membranes. Think of carrots next time you are battling tonsillitis, earaches, infections and deafness. Eat carrots for the treatment of acne, eczema, lesions, and all skin conditions including cancers. Poultices of grated carrots can help treat external wounds, burns and cancerous lesions.

Aids calcium absorption - Silicon rich foods aid calcium absorption.

Increases mother’s milk and regulate all hormones - PMS and hot flashes be gone!

Caution - Carrot juice is very sweet and can deplete the Kidneys, leading to fatigue and hair loss. More than 3 or 4 cups a day is not recommended. You can turn yourself Oompa Loopa orange if you eat enough carrots - but we are talking pounds. A carrot or 2 a day is dandy. 10 carrots a day is too many.

Ways to use carrots

Eat them cooked

Steam them, stew them, roast them, stir-fry them, add them soups, or make okonomoyaki (Japanese vegetable fritters). They work well on their own and play well with other roots, lentils and grains. They can be used in sweet or savory dishes. Use them to flavor or feature in soups. Roast them with other roots with a little olive oil and herbs.

Eat them raw

Toss them over your mix of greens, make a slaw, or just serve them as a side with dinner. The French are famous for serving just a simple side of grated or julienne carrots with a light dressing for many meals. They are divine lightly braised with tahini dressing. Nosh them straight from the garden - okay, rinse off the excess dirt first. Pictured - carrots, golden beet and tops, red and green cabbage in a poppy seed dressing. That’s it.

Reminder: Avoid too much raw and cold foods if you have a very weak digestion and are cold - save your raw carrots for summer and eat them at room temperature.

Eat the tops – A bit more bitter, they will double down on the movement of bile and breaking up accumulations. Add them into sautes, soups and stew. Use them dried as a spice.

Make dips or pate – Use them to dip into hummus, bean dips, ranch (gotta think of the kiddos).

Eat cake - Carrot cake anyone?

Pickled! - Get your pre and probiotic food going.

Use them dried - Carrot chips are great snacks. Minced dried carrots are excellent for adding to soups and seasoning mixes.

Medicinally - Using foods to treat particular pathologies can take a little honing. The addition of carrot juice for acne versus its use for skin cancer can look quite different. Seek guidance from a reliable practitioner who uses food as medicine. I recommend carrot rice congee for diarrhea, Chron’s disease, IBS, heartburn and ulcers. I also use carrot juice for occasional fasts and cleanses.

Be well!

April