Carrots are rich in multiple vitamins and minerals.
Grown in a variety of colors, from pale white to deep purple, carrots contain multiple vitamins and minerals that help fight a host of aliments. The average American eats about 11-1/2 lbs. of carrots a year, the most of any country. Recommended by many diets, carrots help reduce cholesterol, fight infections and stabilize blood sugar. High in nutritional value but low in calories, carrots play an important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
White
White carrots contain more fiber than any other variety of carrots. White Satin carrots are sweet and juicy with a smooth flavor. Lunar White has a very soft core that is almost transparent and mildly sweet. Resembling a weed, the Queen Anne's Lace is long and slender but becomes chewy as it ages. The Belgian White reaches up to 2 feet long with a mild taste and almost no core.
Yellow
Yellow carrots are high in lutene, which helps prevent macular degeneration and hardening of the arteries. The sweet, tender Yellowstone carrots, about 9 inches long, are used frequently in gourmet dishes. Shorter in length, about 6 inches, the Solar Yellow is a variation of the Danvers' with a sweet flavor. The Sinclair is a huge variety that can weigh 10 pounds or more. Yellow carrots is they do not stain soups as much as do red and purple carrots.
Orange
Red carrots contain lycopene, another form of carotene, and antioxidants similar to tomatoes and beets. Both the Nutri-Red and Atomic Red carrots grow large, 8 to 9 , with color and sweetness that intensifies when cooked. Samurai carrots are flavorful and extra large, 11 inches, and steam well in Asian cooking.
Red
Red carrots contain lycopene, another form of carotene, and antioxidants similar to tomatoes and beets. Both the Nutri-Red and Atomic Red carrots grow large, 8 to 9 inches long, with color and sweetness that intensifies when cooked. Samurai carrots are flavorful and extra large, 11 inches, and steam well in Asian cooking.
Purple
Purple varieties add flavor and color to any dish with a high level of beta-carotene. The Purple Haze's color deepens when cooked but maintains its sweet crunch. Shaped like a taper candle, the Cosmic Purple carrot grows to almost 1-foot long with a mild flavor. The Purple Dragon's ultrasweet taste makes it a good choice for salads and juicing.
Health Benefits
An edible, native root vegetable of Asia, carrots contain many important minerals such as calcium, potassium, fiber and folic acid and magnesium. Carrots are an excellent source of multiple B-vitamins, so important for energy and cell development such as B1, B2 and B6. High in vitamin C, K and biotin, carrots have natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Tags: carrots contain, , long with, inches long, when cooked