Carrots are a vegetable.
- botanical information
- origin
- history
- nutritional information
- selection
- storage
- magick correspondences and uses
- health care
- Chinese herbology
- external skin care
botanical information:
Botanical name: Daucus carota
Common name: carrot
French name: carotte
Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.
origin:
Origin: Afghanistan
history:
History: The carrot was originally a small purple vegetable, but was bred into the large orange vegetable common today.
nutritional information:
nutritional value per 100 grams:
- Proteins: 1 gram
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Carbohydrates: 10 grams
- high in fibre
- high in Vitamin A
- high in Vitamin B
- high in carotene
- high in pectin
- high in potassium
Carrots are a source of calcium.
A 2007 Ohio State University study showed that the anthocyanins in carrots (a source of the deep color) significantly slowed the growth of colon cancer cells. Black carrot anthocyanin pigments slowed growth of cancer cells grown in laboratory dishes by 50 to 80 percent and had no harmful effect on healthy cells.
See also Chinese herbalism below for Chinese gender and Chinese flavor.
selection:
Reason to choose organic:
Carrots have the number 13 highest pesticide load of 45 common fruits and vegetables studied in 2006 by the Environmental Working Group and is therefore a prime candidate for switching to organic. The EWA explains, “While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.”
According to USDA and FDA tests on commercially grown foods collected between 2000 and 2005, carrot has a 81.7% (percentage) of samples tested with detectable pesticides, a 48.3% (percentage) of samples with two or more pesticides, a 1.6 average number of pesticides found in a sample, an average of 0.046 parts per million of all pesticides found, and 31 different pesticides found in use growing carrots. These toxic pesticides don’t apply to organic foods.
storage:
Storage: Carrots can be safely stored for more than a week.
magickal correspondences and uses:
Gender: masculine (traditional western European magickal gender)
Western element: fire
Magickal uses of carrot juice: Used by men to encourage a deep connection with sensual and sexual self. Helps ground excess energy. Promotes insight.
Magickal substitutions: Rosemary usually may be safely substituted for any herb in magick spells and rituals. Roses may safely be substituted for any flower.
Magical Uses  Fertility, Lust
information courtesy of 
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health care uses:
Health Notice: Attempting to be an amateur doctor is potentially dangerous to your health. This web page is not professional medical advice. Nothing on this website should be considered as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice. Persons should seek the advice of qualified health providers. Self-medication should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care. Please confirm all self-medication with your doctor or health care professional. See the article on healing for recommended healers.
Chinese herbalism:
Chinese gender: yin (cool)
Chinese flavor: sweet
external care:
External skin care: Beta carotenes (found in orange fruits and vegetables, such as melons, carrots, and pumpkins) are an anti-oxidant and help reduce skin daamagae caused by exposure to the sun and pollutants.
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