Juicing Carrots: A Burst of Vitamin A


One cup of raw carrots (pre-juicing) gives you over six times
the recommended daily percentage of vitamin A.
Photo by Kander, Wikimedia Commons

What's a girl to do when carrots go on sale for 50 cents a bag? Juice 'em! To the naysayer, the thought of making juice from a vegetable may sound, well, icky. But crunchy carrots turn into a sweet, refreshing juice in a matter of seconds with an electric juicer.

And they give your body a vitamin packed pick-me-up.

Health Benefits of Carrots
One cup of raw carrots (pre-juicing) gives you over six times the recommended daily percentage of vitamin A. Carrots are also high in vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. The antioxidants in carrots promote eye health, ward off cardiovascular disease and help prevent some cancers.


Mix it Up
My favorite way to drink carrot juice is with a splash of fresh juiced lemon or mixed with apple juice. I have tried mixing carrot juice with the juice of other vegetables -- including cucumbers, kale and celery -- but the result was too bland.

The World's Healthiest Foods website recommends mixing fresh juiced carrots with soy milk and bananas for a breakfast shake. Since I like soy milk, and this concoction sounds like it might have a sweet taste, I'll have to give it a try.

What are your favorite juicing mixes?

Resources and Suggested Further Reading:
The World's Healthiest Foods, The George Mateljan Foundation: Carrots
SoyQuick: The Benefits of Juicing Fresh Carrots

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living

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Please Pass the Stevia


SweetLeaf Stevia Packets, 50-Count Packages (Pack of 4)Welcome 2011. After the sugar-rush over indulgence of the holidays, I decided it was time to remind myself about natural sweeteners. Refined white sugar, you are the devil. Please pass the stevia.

What is Stevia?
Stevia powder is derived from Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, a plant native to Central and South America. The calorie-free sweetener surpasses the sweetness of refined white sugar by 200 to 300 times, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Stevia: Naturally Sweet Recipes for Desserts, Drinks, and MoreUsing Stevia
I've mixed stevia into hot herbal tea, sprinkled it over cereal and sweetened fresh, raw strawberries with the powder. Since the sweetener packs a powerful punch, I use much less than when I use refined white sugar. One little packet of stevia can sweeten at least three cups of tea. If you're diabetic or looking to shed a few pounds, give stevia a try.



Resources and Suggested Further Reading:

American Dietetic Association: Stevia
United States Department of Agriculture:

Green Plant: Green Sweeteners Compared:
The World's Healthiest Foods:

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela

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