It is no secret that eating fresh vegetables and fruits is very good for health. But few people know that such a vegetable, like carrots, is useful not only for the root vegetable, but also for its tops. It contains a lot of vitamins and trace elements, as well as essential oils. A person loses a lot if he uses only a root vegetable in his diet and does not take into account the value of the tops.
Our ancestors also knew that a whole vegetable is more important for health than its individual parts. And they used this knowledge for such a tasty vegetable as carrots. The botva was added to various salads, soups from it made various preparations for the winter: they salted, pickled.
However, to use carrot tops should be properly and in moderation. Excessive overeating of the green part of the root can lead to a number of negative consequences on the part of the body.
You should be aware that in addition to the useful substances, it also contains such substances that, if they are used excessively, can cause significant discomfort to the person. How to use carrot tops in cooking and how much to use it will be described in the article.
How it looks: description and photo
A plant is leaves that grow above the surface of the soil. In carrots, they have a dark green color and a thin dissected structure.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of carrot leaves affects a variety of vitamins and minerals. The plant contains vitamin A, and its quantity is hundreds of times more than in the root vegetable.
The leaves are also rich in calcium and chlorophyll. High levels of vitamin K, as well as ascorbic acid, vitamins of group B.
In the tops of the mass of minerals, such as:
- iron;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- copper;
- zinc;
- phosphorus;
- sodium.
Reference! The composition contains selenium in large quantities, which is considered one of the prophylactic agents against cancer. In addition, this antioxidant supports the reproductive functions of men and women. Also the tops are rich in fiber.
Health benefits and harm
Eating tops can be both beneficial and harmful. This is due to the individual characteristics of the human body. What is useful tops?
Fresh
Fresh leaves are used in cooking. Greens are added to salads and soups, they make stuffing for various dishes. The use of fresh tops is considered to be the prevention of oncology.
Juice squeezed from tops is an excellent antiseptic. And tea, infused with carrot leaves, will be a useful prevention of many different diseases. With the help of juice and tea you can improve your body.
Before use, the plant must be thoroughly washed and rinsed with boiling water. It is also recommended to pour water for some time, which will help get rid of nitrates in the leaves.
Useful properties and contraindications of the use of dried leaves
Dry product is widely used in traditional medicine in the form of decoctions and teas. This fluid has healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition, it is able to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary and cardiovascular systems. Dry crushed leaves are added to food in the form of seasoning for diabetes. In general, the value of tops lies in its holistic healing effect on all systems and organs of a person who regularly uses it.
Important! Like many other plants, tops have contraindications for use - can cause digestive problems. You can not use the plant during pregnancy and lactation, ulcers and high acidity. Individual components can cause an allergic reaction.
How to trim and store for medicinal purposes?
Harvesting carrots should be harvested before the ripening of root crops - June-July. Cut leaves must be thoroughly washed, finely chopped, then spread out in a thin layer on paper. In this form, the greens are dried. It is desirable that the process took place in the open air, but not in direct sunlight. Dry grass can be stored in fabric or paper bags no more than one year.
Is it possible to eat?
There are carrot tops can be, but in small quantities. Pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as children, it is better to refrain from eating this greens.
Step by step instructions: how to use?
Carrot tops are commonly used as a folk remedy of medicine, for cosmetic purposes, as well as in cooking.
Treatment
When treatment is used decoctions and infusions of carrot leaves inside or topically:
- Recipe for hemorrhoids tea: a couple of teaspoons of dry ingredient pour boiling water (1 cup) and insist ten minutes. Drink for three doses, preferably taken half an hour before meals. The course of treatment lasts from one and a half to two months.
- When urolithiasis: 2 tablespoons dry herb / 2 cups boiling water, to insist a few hours. It should be consumed four times a day before eating 50 milliliters. The course of treatment is from six to eight months.
- From cystitis: tops (2 tablespoons) and boiling water (2 cups), infuse the broth for an hour in a well-wrapped container. Drink half a cup four times a day before meals until the end of the disease.
- With edema: tablespoon of crushed plants pour a glass of boiling water, insist a few hours, take before bedtime.
- From the cold: 5 grams of dry leaves pour 0.5 cups boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Then 5 milliliters of the finished infusion is mixed with five milliliters of garlic juice and five milliliters of vegetable oil. The mixture should be instilled three times a day, 2 drops in one nostril.
- To prevent the formation of cancer cells: Selenium contained in the leaves is able to protect the body from cancer. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to eat a small amount of fresh and dry tops daily. If the skin is damaged due to oncology, then carrot leaves will help here - fresh greens have an excellent healing effect.
- Allergy baths: One hundred grams of tops must be poured with two liters of boiling water, the mixture is infused for several hours. Then concentrate should be filtered in a bath, diluted with water of a suitable temperature. Such baths are taken daily for half an hour until the rash passes. Suitable for both adults and children.
- With diabetes: It is recommended to eat chopped tops, adding it in small quantities as a seasoning.
Cosmetology
Carrot tops are widely used in cosmetology. Due to the concentration of nutrients in the composition of its use:
- To prepare the mask, you need to take 20 grams of tops and chamomile, pereteret and pour a glass of boiling water, insist. Then the resulting mixture is decanted and add the beaten egg.
- Lotion from carrot leaves is well suited for combination skin prone to rashes. For its preparation in addition to tops use sage and calendula. Three ingredients fray and pour a glass of boiling water, then insist for fifteen minutes. The finished mixture must be decanted and add 10 milliliters of apple cider vinegar and juice. It is recommended to wipe the skin after washing with water.
- If you have problems with acne on your face, you can prepare an antibacterial agent. It is necessary to fill the tops with a glass of boiling water, to insist, to filter. Then add 10 grams of carrot juice and vodka. Next, a small amount of salicylic powder is added. The resulting tool must wipe the skin twice a day.
In cooking
Carrot leaves are used for cooking and baking. They add spice to the taste.
Tops are added to the following dishes:
- first meal;
- salads;
- casseroles;
- porridge.
Pancakes stuffed with carrot tops are considered to be a very unusual dish.
Carrot tops are undoubtedly not a secondary raw material, but a very useful plant. Botany is widely used in traditional medicine and cooking. The use of this green is the prevention of many diseases, including cancer.
