Carrots are pretty darn amazing. I discovered the hidden health benefits of carrots long ago when I was turned on to Ray Peat’s work. He talks about how the fiber in carrots are helpful for aiding the excretion of harmful bacteria in the gut.

This is a big deal because the fiber that we’re recommended to eat to maintain a “so called” healthy diet does not have the same properties as the fiber you find in the carrot.

Instead the fiber that’s recommended by mainstream nutritionists (starchy grains, green leafy veggies, fermented foods and cruciferous veggies) run the risk of sitting in the gut and putrefying if digestion is too slow. Leading to issues like leaky gut and bacterial overgrowth.

The difference is, carrots contain anti-fungal properties as well as a unique antimicrobial fiber that acts as a natural detoxifier by binding to toxins in the intestines (absorbing bad bacteria, aka, endotoxins).

This beneficial fiber also aids the body in excreting excess estrogen which could be why you get the most benefit from eating your carrots raw.

But what’s even more interesting is that when you make a carrot salad the beneficial fiber can be way more effective at eliminating toxins, aiding digestion and raising your metabolism than just eating the carrot alone.

How it all works

Hormonal Balance

Improving digestion with beneficial fiber improves hormonal balance by aiding in eliminating excess estrogen in the gut which tend to get recirculated through the intestinal walls if digestion is too slow.

Too much estrogen circulating in the body can then cause harmful side effects and increase your percentage of fat body since estrogen gets stored in your fat cells.

Why is excess estrogen a problem?

Excess estrogen can be a problem as we get older because there’s not enough progesterone to oppose the estrogen (which is a natural process that happens after a woman’s menstrual cycle has ended).

As women get older their ability to produce progesterone diminishes so it’s a double edge sword. You produce less progesterone to oppose the estrogen and the estrogen gets recirculated through the gut if your digestion is compromised.

If estrogen continues to get recirculated without being excreted you end up with severe premenstrual, menopause symptoms, thyroid issues and slow digestive motility. This all leading to a slower metabolism with more fat storage and less muscle growth.

Hence the midlife crisis for women, the thing all women dred as we approach middle age, getting fat (without having the ability to exercise and calorie count it away).

Liver Support (detox)

It’s all about liver support. Your liver is your main event and the one organ you want to pay close attention to. Because if you support your liver many other organs and systems will function well as a result.

According to Ray Peat, “A carrot salad eaten daily can assist the liver and GI tract in the detoxification process and elimination of endotoxin and excess estrogen, thus improving the function of your metabolism.”

70% of your hormonal conversion happens in the liver.

That may be an even bigger deal.

Your liver is your gateway to hormonal balance and efficient energy production.

That’s why it’s important to support your liver with the right foods. Foods that will aid your liver in it’s function of releasing and excreting toxins thus taking the burden off the liver so it can do it’s job of hormonal conversion and aiding the body in energy production by supporting the thyroid (since your thyroid regulates your metabolism).

The beneficial fiber from raw carrots, cooked bamboo shoots and well cooked mushrooms can provide this.

If you struggle with bacterial overgrowth, low thyroid, digestive issues, premenstrual symptoms, menopause symptoms, inflammation, low energy and autoimmune response I highly recommend you include this in your daily routine. I’ve seen digestion improve substantially within a week of eating the raw daily carrot salad.

Daily Carrot Salad  - The Recipe:

• Grate 1 medium size carrot lengthwise

• Add 1 tsp of organic refined coconut oil (or melted if it's not refined) or olive oil

• Add 1 tsp of white rice vinegar

• Add 1 to 2 pinches of sea salt and a little pinch of pepper ( I like Jacobsen Sea Salt - they have a variety of flavors which help to change the flavor up)

• Mix it up and enjoy!

Variations:

• Did you know that carrots come in an array of different colors.  Visit your local farmers market and see what you find.  Using yellow or purple carrots is a great way to avoid too much beta carotene.

• Kate Deering recommends grating an entire batch of carrots and soaking them in water before use.  This keeps them fresh as well as aids in reducing the amount of beta carotene.

• You change the flavor by adding different flavors of sea salt or spices to it.

Benefits of a daily carrot salad include:

• Aids the liver in the detoxification process by carrying the toxins away via the carrot fiber

• Stimulates the digestion

• Increases thyroid hormone conversion

• Decreases stress hormones;  adrenaline and cortisol, as well as, aldosterone and serotonin

• Relieves premenstrual symptoms

• Contains an indigestible fiber that's antimicrobial and antibacterial which pull out endotoxins (bad bacteria) in the gut.  Making your gut flora a much healthier place.

• When you cut your carrot lengthwise (even after you chew it) you get the benefit of it pulling out endotoxin much more effectively and lower in the digestive tract.

• The raw carrot is effective at detoxing excess estrogen in the gut and prevent estrogen from getting reabsorbed in the gut, thus creating hormonal balance.

• Eat your carrot salad between meals, between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner.

Benefits of Essential components of the daily carrot salad

• The coconut oil or olive oil aids in offsetting the unsaturated fat in the carrot as well as stimulates the metabolism by lowering your requirement for vitamin E, suppressing bacterial overgrowth and healing the intestinal wall.  

• The vinegar aids in digestion and stimulating HCL.  

• The salt aids in keeping adrenaline, aldosterone and serotonin levels down, stimulates the bowel, provides minerals your body needs, increases metabolism, maintains a healthy blood sugar and makes your salad taste better.

Resources:

http://www.functionalps.com/blog/2012/09/28/ray-peat-phd-on-the-benefits-of-the-raw-carrot/

http://www.thenutritioncoach.com.au/anti-ageing/a-carrot-a-day/

The Effect Of Raw Carrot On Serum Lipids And Colon Function

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/32/9/1889/4692446