Carrots

Carrots could be described as a super food, a root vegetable that is well known for its actual health promoting benefits both real and mythical as a result of propaganda.

They are a source of dietary fibre, protein, iron, vita- min C and contains over 40 calories per 100gms and supports energy levels; their scientific name is daucus carota subsq sativus.This may come as a surprise to many but carrots maybe purple, black, red, white and even yellow naturally; they were selectively bred in Holland to their present colour of orange to ingratiate the House of Orange, the Dutch royal family. I doubt many of us have seen a carrot let alone cooked or eaten carrots that are not orange.

Carrots are believed to have a history going back 2-3000 years BC with their origins in the cradle of civilisation the Middle East; Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan through to Turkey.

Throughout history life for many was a matter of feast or famine, harvest time was a time of plenty and the winter months were very often a battle with the elements to survive. All animals including humans adapted their various survival lifestyles and strategies, for many animals including humans they built up body fat as a food source and insulation to sustain them through the colder months, weight gain through the harvest time of plenty and weight loss through the colder months and times of food shortages.