B is …Beta-carotene
Carrots are the most prolific vegetable source of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. No surprise then that an 80g serving of cooked carrots contains more than twice the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin A.
C is for …Captain Carrot
Superhero, Captain Carrot, fights the evil Baron von Burger and his army of Noxious Nuggets with the help of his friends Spud, Red Onion, Supercorn, Agent Sprout and Peas. His special powers include seeing in the dark and he can help fight infections from colds, bacteria and viruses. Visit www.carrots4kids.co.uk to find out how this superhero and his sidekicks overcome the greasy evils.
D is for …Drilling
Twenty-two billion carrot seeds are drilled into the ground in Britain every year. Being the size of tiny pin heads one heaped teaspoon can hold approximately 2,000 seeds.
E is for …Eating
We Brits eat our way through £290 billion or 700,000 tonnes worth of carrots every year – that’s approximately 100 carrots per person.
F is for …Fibre
Carrots are packed with fibre, which helps to keep the digestive system healthy, balance blood glucose (sugar) levels and keeps you feeling fuller for longer, making carrots a fantastic healthy snack.
G is for …Getting Bikini Fit
Not only are they naturally low in calories, fat, saturates and salt, carrots are also high in fibre and water making them a great choice if you want to eat healthy and lose weight.
H is for …Healthy Looking Skin
Beta-carotene is an important antioxidant nutrient found in abundance in carrots. Which is great news for our skin, as the antioxidant action of beta-carotene may help to act against age-accelerating free radicals, so that our skin remains healthy and elastic.
I is for …Immune Boosting
Vitamin A is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. This nutrient keeps the skin and cells that line the airways, digestive tract and urinary tract healthy, so they act as barriers and form the body’s first line of defense against infection.
J is for …Juice
Carrot juice is great for boosting energy levels. For a fantastic combination why not try carrot, apple and ginger. Simply put eight medium carrots, 2 apples and a slice of root ginger through a fruit and veg juicer and stir well before serving.
K is for …Kids Who Love Carrots
A recent nationwide survey of children revealed that carrots are the favourite vegetable of over half the children questioned, and 75 per cent of the children believed that “seeing in the dark” was the top health property of this delicious vegetable.
L is for …the Longest Carrot Ever Recorded
The World’s Longest Carrot was grown by Joe Atheron from Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire in 2007. The carrot was measured in at 5.84 metres, over 19 foot long.
M is for …the Moon
If you laid all the carrots grown in the this country in one year end to end they would reach 2.3 million kilometres – that’s two and a half return trips to the moon.
N is for …New Season Carrots
New season British carrots are available from June through to August and are prized for their fresh, sweet, aromatic flavour.
O is for …Orange
The orange colour of carrots is caused by pigments called carotenoids, which is where the carrot gets its names from. But carrots were not always orange, in 2000 BC the vegetable appeared in a variety of hues including purple, white, red, green, yellow and even black. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the orange carrot was first harvested.
P is for …Philtron
The ancient Greeks called the carrot "Philtron" which is derived from the word philein "to love". They used it as a love medicine to make men more ardent and women more yielding.
Q is for …a Quick Way to Five a Day
An 80g serving of carrots (that’s equivalent to about ½ a medium-sized carrot) counts as one of your five portions of fruit and veg. So whether you eat it as it is, mashed with potato or sliced into stews or soups - there isn’t a quicker way to top up your five-a-day.
R is for …Royal Vegetable
Through selective breeding Dutch growers managed to grow the first orange carrots which were less bitter than their yellow cousins. Patriotic growers started to cultivate this variety and they were adopted as the Royal Dutch vegetable in honour of the House of Orange and the struggle for Dutch independence.
S is for …Seeing In the Dark
During the Second World War, the British concealed the fact that they possessed radar systems by spreading the rumour that the accuracy of their fighter pilots was down to the large quantities of carrots they consumed.
T is for …Topping Up Your Tan
While some have skin that tans more easily than others, the beta-carotene in carrots helps those that do tan easily to tan more deeply. It also prolongs the tan. Beta-carotene is partly responsible for the colours of vegetables, fruits and flowers. In the body it supports the production of melanin responsible for the darkening of the skin under sunlight.
U is for …UV protection
When taken on a regular basis, beta-carotene can help to protect your skin from excessive ultra-violet (UV) radiation and sunburn. That’s not to say you should ditch your sunscreen if you eat a lot of carrots! You should still follow sun safety advice and cover up during the hottest part of the day, wear a hat and regularly slather on sun screen with a high SPF.
V is for …Versatile
Carrots are one of the most versatile vegetables around. They can be eaten raw, or cooked by means of steaming, boiling, mashing, roasting, baking and microwaving. And when it comes to preparation… you can leave them whole, or dice, slice, grate and batton them.
W is for …www.britishcarrots.co.uk
For delicious carrot recipes, history, folklore, health and growing facts, visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk.
X is for … Xmas
No Xmas is complete without delicious roasted carrots and why not ditch the traditional Xmas pudding for a lighter Lincolnshire Carrot Pudding, which is so simple you could even make it on the day (visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk for the full recipe).
Y is for …Yang
According to Asian tradition whereby foods are classified as yin, yang or neutral, carrots are regarded as a yang food, known for their tendency to warm the body, tighten muscles and speed up movement.
Z is for …Zino
Zino is a very long exhibition type carrot that reportedly has good flavour and taste and is good for juicing.
Source: - British Carrot Growers’ Association
