Carrots - who knew how mighty this common vegetable can be!

I have been doing research on adding certain foods to the diet to assist with a particular symptom for a friend. I am always so grateful when someone asks me to do research because I am reminded how powerful food can be - thus the Magic! So, I was reading about carrots and WOW! (REMEMBER, ONLY YOUR BODY KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR IT SO LISTEN TO WHAT IT TELLS YOU WHEN YOU EAT CARROTS!)

The book Healing with Whole Foods, by Paul Pitchford (one of my all time favorite teachers) states this about carrots (read on - the list is long!):

• Protect against cancer,
• Treat night blindness
• Treat ear infections
• Treat earaches
• Treat deafness
• Benefit the skin
• Are anti-inflammatory for the mucous membranes
• Are useful for skin lesions, lung, digestive tract and urinary tract infections
• Ease whooping cough and coughs in general
• Increase the milk supply of nursing mothers and help regulate all hormones
• Help ripen measles and chicken pox
• Strengthen connective tissue
• Aid in calcium metabolism
• Help liquify bile and treat constipation
• Carrot juice heals burns when applied directly.

"For these conditions, eat at least 6 ounces of carrots a day or drink a cup or two of fresh carrot juice. Eating carrot sticks daily helps strengthen children's teeth, and in some cases, reduces overcrowding of the teeth by encouraging the development of the lower jaw. Grated carrots are best for parasites and dysentery and have been used as a poultice over cancerous growths to reduce inflammation and odor. Carrots are cooked in cases of diarrhea; when cooked and pureed or as a soup, they benefit infants with weak digestion. For a concentration of vitamin A and other nutrients, fresh carrot juice is ideal - it should be taken only on an empty stomach and should be diluted with water for infants."

He adds a CAUTION: "Carrot juice is very sweet, and regular consumption may lead to weakened kidneys with symptoms such as head hair loss. More than four cups daily is not recommended."

And for the adventurous he adds: "Carrot tops are bitter. They serve as a mineral-rich addition to soups and broths. The stems can be removed before serving. Adding a little of the tops when juicing carrots makes the juice less sweet and a better remedy for cancer prevention . . ."

Carrots are so easy to add to the diet and really inexpensive! So eat carrots . . . lots of carrots! Raw, baked, steamed, sauteed, in salads, in soups, pureed, and add some fresh juice a few days a week to your routine!

By the way - if you eat too many, your body will tell you this by turning orange!