Beautiful Skin Detox With Carrots

03 December 2009

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Carrots - Top Dieting Ingredient for New Year Detox loose weight and slow the aging process down...

If the excesses of the festive season have leave you feeling sluggish, bloated and a few pounds heavier and you want to give your body a well deserved detox, make sure to pop some carrots into your trolley at your next shop.

Carrots are a detox essential as they’re packed with a powerful antioxidant beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Its a fact that carrots the best source of beta-carotene of all the fruit and vegetables - an 80g serving contains more than twice the recommended daily amount needed by adults. The antioxidant action of beta-carotene helps to act against age-accelerating free radicals, so they will bring back that healthy glow to your skin.

The Vitamin A in carrots is also 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.

Carrots also have a high fibre content, which helps to keep the digestive system healthy and helps to balance your blood glucose (sugar) levels. An 80g serving of cooked carrots contains 2g fibre, more than a tenth of the recommended daily amount for adults.

Fibre also helps you to feel fuller for longer and as an 80g serving of cooked carrots contains just 24 calories, they’re a great choice if you’re watching your weight.

And don’t worry if you’re not a fan of raw carrots, eating cooked carrots is actually a nutritional bonus. Research published in the European Journal of Nutrition showed that more beta-carotene was absorbed from cooked, puréed carrots than from raw ones*.

So make sure you pick up a bunch of carrots and get crunching. They’re great as a healthy snack and are endlessly versatile in a range of delicious dishes. Try out these healthy detox recipes below or visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk for more recipe inspiration.

Carrots are a detox essential as they’re packed with a powerful antioxidant beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.

Some other top tips for your New Year Detox include:
* Make sure you eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, unsalted nuts and seeds, and drink herbal teas and at least 6-8 glasses of water every day.
* Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, salt, sugar and processed foods.
* Invest in a body brush and concentrate on massaging your cellulite problem areas.
* Detox your environment too by clearing away any clutter. A calming environment will help you to recharge your energy levels.

Lemony Carrot Dhal
Preparation: 10 mins
Cooking: 30-35 mins
Serves 4
Per serving: 312 calories, 8.1g fat, 0.8g saturates, 14.3g sugars, 0.97g salt
Contains a over a third of your RDA of iron and counts for 3 of your 5-A-DAY

30ml/2tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
450g/1lb carrots, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped
2.5cm/1in piece root ginger, peeled and chopped
225g/8oz split red lentils
15ml/1tbsp medium curry paste
zest and juice 2 lemons
1.15ltr/2pts vegetable stock
30ml/2tbsp chopped fresh coriander
salt and freshly ground black pepper
coriander to garnish
rice and/or naan bread to serve

1. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and carrots and sauté for 3-4mins. Add the garlic, chilli, ginger and sauté for 1min.
2. Stir in the lentils, curry paste, lemon zest and juice and stock. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 25-30mins or until the carrots are tender and the lentils have broken down. Remove from the heat, stir in the coriander and season to taste. Serve hot with rice and naan bread.

Roasted Baby Vegetable Salad
Preparation: 5 mins
Cooking: 20 mins
Serves 4

175g/6oz baby carrots, scrubbed and halved
2 tbsp olive oil
100g/4oz asparagus tips
100g/4oz baby courgettes, trimmed and halved
75g/3oz sugar snap peas
2 tbsp orange juice
1 (150g) bag Bistro salad leaves

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