Carrot Greens - Why They should Be In everyone's Diet
( Including Your Pet )
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Carrot Greens are the bright green, phytochemical-rich leaves that protrude above the ground and are the other end of the carrot taproot. Long dismissed due to their bitter taste, it was a common practice to discard these nutrient dense leaves when harvesting the taproot from gardens. New research now suggests that may have been a big mistake. Upon closer scrutiny, carrot greens have an elite nutritional profile that at least equals – and in some cases even exceeds - the vitamin and mineral content of the taproot. The greens contain substantial amounts of: vitamin A, Biotin, B6, vitamin K and C. In addition, they also possess an impressive mineral content that includes: magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.
The bright green color of the greens is due to the high chlorophyll content (Photosynthetic process) and is reason enough to make them an integral part of your household’s daily dietary regimen. Anyone looking to have better eyesight – including your pet – would be well served to ingest the greens in some way, shape or form. They possess some of the best antioxidant constituents (Carotenoids) known to science including: lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Personally, I feel the inclusion of carrot greens in my geriatric pet’s diet is one of the reasons that her eyesight is still sharp (not showing any signs of cataracts) at an advanced age. How can you prepare them in a palatable form for your pet?
How to Prepare Carrot Greens for your Pet
Clean and wash the greens under cool water. If you are unsure whether or not they are certifiably organic, you can dip them into a mixture of distilled white vinegar, filtered water and baking soda. Let soak for a few minutes and then rinse under the tap with cool water. They are now ready to juice. Cut the greens into smaller pieces and add them into a juicer, blender or Nutri-Bullet. I like to complement them with things like: carrot taproots, celery, kale, powdered flaxseed, etc. Pulse for (30) seconds and then pour right on top of your pet’s food and serve.
You can also include them (not juiced) in your pet’s regular food. I run them through a food processor and just mix right in. I’ve had much more success this way as opposed to serving as a juice. The inclusion of regular food will help nullify the bitter taste.
Some people also include them in salads, pestos and hummus for their pet. All good options. You are only limited by your creativity and time.
Growing Carrots in your Garden
You face a perplexing set of challenges every time you shop in the grocery store. Are the bagged carrots safe to eat? What’s been sprayed on them? Moreover, how about the organic carrots? Are they really USDA certified organic? It’s not always easy to tell for sure. Therefore, it might be better and promote peace of mind by growing your own. I would recommend buying certifiable Non-GMO seeds from a reputable on-line seller (Burpee, Johnny’s, Park Seeds, etc.) or at a Community Co-op Market that specializes in USDA certified organics. I tend to stay away from seeds that are sold at big retailers like: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sears Garden Center, etc. The big stores are notorious for buying huge quantities of seeds that are inferior in quality. They do this to save money. Conversely, many of the organic retailers that I mentioned above typically propagate and package their seedlings right on-site, so the product that you buy is not exchanging hands numerous times before they end up on a store shelf – several months later.
Planting Seeds for Optimal Yield
Carrots are a cool weather crop that likes loose, loamy soil. Raised beds with plenty of well-worked compost is a plus. You can start to plant seeds (3) weeks before the last expected frost. Seedlings generally start to emerge about (1) to (3) weeks after sowing. You can thin rows as needed after this initial growth. Water lightly as to not impede the tap root growth. Some people like to cover the green tops with some kind of mulch to protect and cut down on the bitterness of the greens taste. I have found this to be helpful. Harvesting can begin as soon as the taproots are a few inches in length. In warmer climates, sowing should be done in the Fall and Winter.
Different Varieties of Carrots
There are literally hundreds of different varieties of carrots which are based on shape. Here’s some of the most popular to get you started:
Summary
Regardless of which variety of carrot you choose to plant, this can go a long way in helping your pet achieve optimal health status. Carrot top greens can aid in preserving eyesight, helping digestion, maintaining high level kidney function and decreasing the risk of certain cancers.
(609) 586 – 4815
dogdietguru@aol.com
www.dietsforlife.net
The bright green color of the greens is due to the high chlorophyll content (Photosynthetic process) and is reason enough to make them an integral part of your household’s daily dietary regimen. Anyone looking to have better eyesight – including your pet – would be well served to ingest the greens in some way, shape or form. They possess some of the best antioxidant constituents (Carotenoids) known to science including: lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Personally, I feel the inclusion of carrot greens in my geriatric pet’s diet is one of the reasons that her eyesight is still sharp (not showing any signs of cataracts) at an advanced age. How can you prepare them in a palatable form for your pet?
How to Prepare Carrot Greens for your Pet
Clean and wash the greens under cool water. If you are unsure whether or not they are certifiably organic, you can dip them into a mixture of distilled white vinegar, filtered water and baking soda. Let soak for a few minutes and then rinse under the tap with cool water. They are now ready to juice. Cut the greens into smaller pieces and add them into a juicer, blender or Nutri-Bullet. I like to complement them with things like: carrot taproots, celery, kale, powdered flaxseed, etc. Pulse for (30) seconds and then pour right on top of your pet’s food and serve.
You can also include them (not juiced) in your pet’s regular food. I run them through a food processor and just mix right in. I’ve had much more success this way as opposed to serving as a juice. The inclusion of regular food will help nullify the bitter taste.
Some people also include them in salads, pestos and hummus for their pet. All good options. You are only limited by your creativity and time.
Growing Carrots in your Garden
You face a perplexing set of challenges every time you shop in the grocery store. Are the bagged carrots safe to eat? What’s been sprayed on them? Moreover, how about the organic carrots? Are they really USDA certified organic? It’s not always easy to tell for sure. Therefore, it might be better and promote peace of mind by growing your own. I would recommend buying certifiable Non-GMO seeds from a reputable on-line seller (Burpee, Johnny’s, Park Seeds, etc.) or at a Community Co-op Market that specializes in USDA certified organics. I tend to stay away from seeds that are sold at big retailers like: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sears Garden Center, etc. The big stores are notorious for buying huge quantities of seeds that are inferior in quality. They do this to save money. Conversely, many of the organic retailers that I mentioned above typically propagate and package their seedlings right on-site, so the product that you buy is not exchanging hands numerous times before they end up on a store shelf – several months later.
Planting Seeds for Optimal Yield
Carrots are a cool weather crop that likes loose, loamy soil. Raised beds with plenty of well-worked compost is a plus. You can start to plant seeds (3) weeks before the last expected frost. Seedlings generally start to emerge about (1) to (3) weeks after sowing. You can thin rows as needed after this initial growth. Water lightly as to not impede the tap root growth. Some people like to cover the green tops with some kind of mulch to protect and cut down on the bitterness of the greens taste. I have found this to be helpful. Harvesting can begin as soon as the taproots are a few inches in length. In warmer climates, sowing should be done in the Fall and Winter.
Different Varieties of Carrots
There are literally hundreds of different varieties of carrots which are based on shape. Here’s some of the most popular to get you started:
- Ball Type - This variety tends to be radish shaped with a short taproot approx. 3 to 4 inches in length. They are considered to be a mini carrot.
- Chantenay - Typically the taproot only grows to a length of 6’ to 7’ This variety yields a short and broad shape. The vigorous green leaf growth is ideal for salads, juices and veggie medleys.
- Danvers – Long and skinny, the Danvers variety is the image that most people conjure up when thinking of carrots. A very versatile carrot, Danvers is more tolerant of poor soil quality (rocky, clay, thick, etc.) than other varieties. They are bright orange in color.
- Nantes – Almost perfectly cylindrical in nature – both at top and bottom – the Nantes variety is very popular due to its rich, sweet taste. They are well-suited for juicing
- Imperator - This is the most commercially produced variety and is a mainstay on most grocery store shelves. Yields best results when planted in a deep, loose soil that is actively alive with micro-organisms.
Summary
Regardless of which variety of carrot you choose to plant, this can go a long way in helping your pet achieve optimal health status. Carrot top greens can aid in preserving eyesight, helping digestion, maintaining high level kidney function and decreasing the risk of certain cancers.
(609) 586 – 4815
dogdietguru@aol.com
www.dietsforlife.net
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