#specifically ‘they will consume your sweet resistance - they will carry your heart in their teeth��

[mipexch]

breaking apart our intricate machinery / i will carry your heart in my teeth

[aykaypee]

this is THE melanie song from tcw. and i will prove why (psa i havent listened to tma in a hot sec and im not pulling up the wiki for this so)

I've earned myself a reputation / That my bark is much worse than my bite

[ mel has indeed earned herself a reputation, both in fandom and canon for her unsuccessful assasination attempts on el*as. it's literally a tiktok audio. she talks a big game and she Can deliver, she fucking ganked jon during ghost bullet surgery, but compared to the violence wreaked by someone like daisy? daisy is admittedly a more fully realised avatar than melanie was, but mel was more simmering rage given an outlet, she's not a hit first talk later person, she's threats and shouts and screams and then she'll hit. ]

But I keep snapping at Goliath's hands / With all of my tiny might

[ first of all mel is a short person second. more el*as imagery. the goliath as this enormous, insurmountable obstacle. and she chips away at him anyways, she's full of venom and vitriol and she doesn't let anything convince her that there is an answer that doesn't involve taking him down permanantly. it's just not possible. she doesn't let the setbacks stop her. ]

There are no stones at my disposal / There's no God to award me a crown

[ she doesnt have anything at her disposal to do this, there's no convenient thing that will work, nor is there any reward driving her, nothing divine. but there is something sacred. there is bloodshed promised, satisfaction at tearing down an almighty asshole. so spite will drive her. ]

But I am always swinging at / Somebody I can't knock down

[ refer to line 3-4. even in her first argument with jon, she ie arguing with someone that will not budge in their beliefs. she is trying to climb an uphill battle. this seems constant for her, with how much she does it. ]

All of the fire I've swallowed / All of the sparks that went dark in my gut / I am always burning up

[ id understand if this and the next bit were what made people think thsi was an agnes coded song but !! melanie being mocked and ridiculed for her experiences, swallowing that rage for fear of being ostracized completely or cancelled, mixed with the audience reception, and jon's dismissal, shes seething! and then she has an outlet for her anger! the Slaughter, el*as, jon, anything she can see and try to sink her proverbial teeth into ]

Dress me in red and throw your roses / And I'll rankle the beasts with words

[ ok this is also v agnes coded and ill admit i didnt know what to do here but.. i think 'dress me in red and throw your roses' is kind of . like u can see it as a combo of 'let me consumed by The Slaughter' (blood coded entity and blood is, famously, red) and 'praise me' (tying back to her youtube roots. she'll be covered in blood that she wishes to spill, a shadow on her figure and a burning in her veins and she will do everything for the eventuality of tearing at those 'beasts'. i think her and daisy should have interacted more tbh. ]

It's a graceless dance of epithets / We learn to make someone hurt

[ literally what it says on the tin all bark no bite we will learn what makes them tick and we will call them names and they will hurt . not specifically melanie coded but theyre not all gonna be winners. ]

They will consume your sweet resistance / And they'll carry your heart in their teeth / But I am always feeding them / The ugliest parts of me

[ OK SO.. OK. this isnt about The Slaughter as much as i would have said so about 5 minutes ago NO its about The Eye. well specifically the second line here is Slaughter and the rest is Eye . they will consume your sweet resistance referencing the clear joy and the .........Food that el*as and jon get from melanie's rage and statements respectively, she is always feeding them her ugliest parts, those base urges that are being fuelled on by the other entity that has a hold on her, one that carries her heart in its teeth and makes that panic of fight or die set in and she has carried the weight of fight, scream, shout in her all of her life so she knows she cannot escape. ]

All of the words I've swallowed / All of the sharp things I've kept in my mouth / I am always bleeding out

[ it is a CYCLE babe. she kept things in, she bottled it up and now she is bleeding out !!!! she is letting it all out and it is NOT healthy and she either flails around and thrashes and makes the wounds WORSE or she keeps it in again and exascerbates those wounds and continues to reopen them when it looks like they're closed. it's literally no winning unless she. oh i don't know gets a gf and TALKS ABOUT IT. ]

Take me to war / Honey, I dare you / I'll be the sweetest thing / To ever scare you

[ okay ignore the second part thats agnescoded looks at jack barnabas but . she is Looking for a fight. she wants a damn excuse to do this, to feel like this, to justify it. and if she doesn't get to play the bloodthirsty defender.... well, she'll just have to be the aggressor, then. ]

Give me a fight I can't resist / Give me something to break with my fists / Take me to war / Oh, honey, I dare you

[ same as above she's itching for something to tesr into physically or verbally or what have you and it has bubbled to the point of white hot rage boiling over and burning anything that comes near . something something desolation reference. ]

I watched a weed usurp the garden / And it poisoned the rest of the crops

[ OK SO HEAR ME OUT melanie seeing not!sasha. and everyone saying it's sasha. and knowing something's not right. with them, with It. It is not a person, It wears the façade of one and it's not even fucking correct. ]

It would take days of fighting stubborn roots / To tear the whole damn thing out

[ she is NOT gonna bother trying to convince them any more than she has tried before. and she has. and nobody has listened, and nobody knew and ahe feels like she was going crazy. so ]

So I will leave it where it's standing / And instead I will find me a match / I'll turn it all to kindling / I'll burn it all down to ash

[ shell just leave. let it grow, let it burn them from the inside out and laugh in the ashes and say 'i told you so'. something somethi g desolation but she's not personal enough for desolation . the only person she gets really personal with is jon bit that's because jon was a prick and i get that. ]

All of the ire I've swallowed / All of the coals that still sit in my gut / I am always burning up

[ babes we are back to the metaphors of simmering anger and frustration at nobody fucking listening to her, a repeated pattern throughout her whole character . nobody listens. nobody knows. and who do you gloat to, when things turn out your way? the sods stuck in apocalyptic hellscapes? the dead man? Hell Jesus and his sugar baby plus one? ]

Take me to war / Honey, I dare you

[ well, fuck it. ]

I'll be the sweetest thing / To ever scare you

[ fuck it all. ]

Give me a fight I can't resist / Give me something to break with my fists

[ they won't listen, fine. ]

Take me to war / Oh, honey, I dare you

[ she won't make them listen. they'll just see. ]

ANYWAYS after all that the real agnes/jude or agnes/jack song is tongues and teeth and agnes' tcw song is icarus . lmk if i should analyse (ish) more

Go listen to "Take Me to War" by the Crane Wives. Done? Vote.

[lowcarbnutrients]

Is Almond Butter Keto? Only If The Ingredient List Looks Like This

Is almond butter keto-friendly?

If you read this guide on the pros and also cons of nuts on a ketogenic diet, you most likely know almonds get on the okay-to-eat low-carb nut list.

But what happens when almonds are ground up into nut butter?

Does this focused amount pointer the carbs crazy and place you previous healthy ketosis limits?

You'll find the solution to this burning inquiry in this guide.

And you'll also learn:

4 factors to consist of nut butters on a keto diet

The best nuts on keto

The decision: whether almond butter is keto approved

How to make homemade almond butter

Easy recipes with almond butter

Before we get to whether almond butter ought to be contributed to or nixed from your keto food selection planning, allow's discuss why nut butters as a whole are a truly great concept for ketosis.

4 Reasons Nut Butters Need To Come To Be a Staple in Your Keto Meal Plans

As a quick refresher, nut butters are made from grinding up nuts or seeds to create a thick, creamy paste.

They're much like peanut butter except they originate from real nuts and seeds, instead of inflammatory vegetables like peanuts.

Many nut butters are dairy-free as well as gluten-free as well so they function for a variety of modified keto diets.

Nutrition sensible, it's wise to consist of nut butters in your keto diet due to the fact that they also load these 4 health advantages:

# 1: Nut Butters Have Ideal Macros for Those On a Ketogenic Diet

If you were tired of nut butters in your low-calorie diet regimen past, have no fear concerning this concern on keto.

While nuts and nut butters might have a higher quantity of calories per their little serving size, those fats are of the healthy and balanced selection as well as are much appreciated on a ketogenic diet.

Certain nuts, like almonds particularly, also include a little bit of healthy protein to fuel your body when you're seeming like you need a snack to perk you up.

Plus, many keto-friendly nut butters have a good amount of fiber, which keeps the net carb count reduced for a normal serving.

And it's not just their macros that make nut butters a keto diet staple, it's also the little points you'll discover inside every spoonful.

# 2: Nut Butters Also Have Vital Micronutrients

While macros hog all the spotlight on a keto diet regimen, important micronutrients should not be ignored.

So when it concerns almond butter specifically, you'll locate these vital nutrients in their nutrition facts [*]:

Vitamin E

Riboflavin

Niacin

Folate

Choline

Calcium

Iron

Magnesium

Phosphorus

Potassium

Zinc

Copper

Manganese

Selenium (in trace amounts)

As Dr. Anthony Gustin discussed with Chris Masterjohn in this podcast episode, trace elements play an indispensable function in maintaining you healthy. Keto should not be almost weight-loss - it's a beneficial device for aiding you become your healthiest self.

And considering that almond butter is nutrition dense and filled with plenty of macro- as well as micronutrients, you can have it as a nourishing snack regardless of where you are, which is additionally its following benefit.

# 3: You Can Appreciate Nuts and Nut Butters Almost Anywhere

Almond butter as well as other nut butters are conveniently transportable.

You can stash them in your work or fitness center bag or load them in your carry on while traveling.

And you don't require anything yet a spoon or celery stick to scoop out your nut butter as well as treat your method with your day.

But don't simply take my word for it, there's a lot of research to support the fact that including extra nuts in your diet also indicates scoring much more favorable health and wellness benefits.

# 4: Eating Nuts Is Incredibly Healthy

Researchers say eating more nuts can help:

Reduce kind 2 diabetes mellitus, heart problem, passing, cancer, and inflammation

Lower insulin resistance as well as negative cholesterol levels

Decrease your risk of stroke

Reduce blood pressure

Improve your nervous system

Strengthen your bones and also teeth

So currently it should be much easier to see why so lots of individuals pick to include nut butters in their once a week keto dish plans.

But, as you may have read in this guide, some nuts are better for you on a ketogenic diet regimen because they're reduced in carbs and greater in fiber than others.

These are The 5 Best Keto Nuts

The healthiest nuts you can consume on keto include:

Pecans

Brazil nuts

Macadamias

Hazelnuts

Walnuts

Wondering why almonds do not make the cut?

Even though they're technically on the keto-approved nuts listing, they're just not in the top 5 due to the fact that they have a bit more carbohydrates (and fiber) than virtually zero carbohydrate nuts like pecans or macadamias.

In a 1 oz. serving of almonds, you'll locate 2.5 g of net carbohydrates. That exact same serving of pecans, for instance, clocks in at just 1.2 g of internet carbohydrates - so you can see the difference.

But that does result in the big concern:

Is Almond Butter Keto?

The brief response: almond butter certainly can be keto.

As you now recognize, almonds are okay on their own, yet similar to numerous nut butters on the marketplace, it's actually very easy to take an excellent point and also turn it right into something unhealthy for you.

That's why you must constantly inspect the components checklist and nutrition facts first.

A high-quality nut butter will have:

Very few active ingredients besides nuts and also a little bit of salt

Zero added sugars

No fillers or processed junk

Less than 2-3g of net carbohydrates per serving

Ideally, it uses organic almonds

The ideal almond butters generally have just organic ground raw or baked nuts as the only ingredient on the list.

However, to include even more flavor and also enhance the consistency and also structure of the almond butter, you'll typically see other active ingredients mixed in.

And this is where things start to get a little dirty in between what is keto-friendly and what isn't.

When the almonds in your almond butter are baked in inflammatory vegetable oils, it may harm your wellness even when they fit your macros.

So if you identify any of these oils, placed the almond butter back on the rack and run:

Partially or hydrogenated veggie oils

Soybean oil

Canola oil

Palm oil

Sunflower oil

Keep in mind, high-grade brands might have healthier oils such as coconut oil or MCT oil in their almond butter to guarantee it stays smooth as well as spreadable.

Coconut oil and also MCT oil are 2 terrific additions to nut butters since they can aid you feel fuller for longer and give you sustained psychological and also physical energy.

Another red flag to examine when you're examining whether almond butter is keto-friendly is the added ingredients.

If there are any kind of man-made flavors and chemicals included, you could be getting covert sugars and also carbohydrates in your nut butter, 2 things that will most definitely undermine your ketosis and also weight reduction efforts.

High top quality almond butters might utilize healthy and balanced active ingredients to add taste without included sugars or stabilizers, such as:

Vanilla bean

Cinnamon

Sea salt

Stevia or monk fruit

So the message is clear: not all industrial almond butters are risk-free on a ketogenic diet plan, however that does not suggest you ought to exclude it completely. You simply need to discover the best one.

When you find an almond butter that is keto-friendly and healthy, you can securely utilize it in your recipes.

If you see almond butter in the ingredient listing of other food products, see to it sure it's natural. Organic almond butter on treats like Perfect Keto Bars is entirely keto-safe and also better for you than peanut butter or any nut butter roasted in veggie oil.

And if you do not have actually the persistence required to sift via all the labels at the grocery shop or on Amazon when looking for a risk-free almond butter, you can make your very own homemade almond butter, or any other nut butter for that matter.

They're a great deal much easier to deal with than you might think.

Plus, making home made almond butter indicates you can regulate all the ingredients you'll be consuming, tailor a dish according to your craving for sweets or preferences, as well as may also save a couple of bucks too.

How to Make Homemade Keto Almond Butter

It only takes a couple of steps to make homemade keto almond butter.

If you intend to make almond butter with roasted almonds, you'll need to roast your nuts first.

To roast almonds:

Preheat your stove to 250 degrees as well as get hold of 3 cups of your favorite raw almonds.

Lay your nuts out on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy tidy up.

Roast your almonds for about 15 minutes, or up until they are golden brown, rather than the light brown color they are when raw.

If you're currently starting out with roasted almonds, it's a good concept to heat these up for about 5-10 mins as opposed to using them at area temperature.

The little added little bit of warm makes them less complicated to refine and break down for butter.

Speaking of that, currently it's time to take your nuts as well as grind them up.

To make almond butter:

Take your warm, baked almonds and also add them to a mixer or high-powered blender.

Start by pulsing the almonds in little surges to crush them.

When you see your almonds come to be the uniformity of almond crumbs or almond flour, crank up your equipment to full power.

Continue to process the almonds for about 15-20 minutes as the natural oils start to turn the completely dry almond flour to a luscious butter.

Take breaks to scrape down the sides before mixing further, as often as needed

Depending on exactly how you like your almond butter, you can keep choosing a luscious consistency or stop earlier if you're a beefy fan.

But right before completing, seize the day to add some flavor and also nutrition boosters to your almond butter.

You can do this by adding any kind of mix of the complying with sugar-free keto-friendly ingredients to your mixer:

MCT oil powder

Sea salt

Vanilla extract

Stevia-sweetened dark chocolate or cacao nibs

Cacao powder

Cinnamon

Chia seeds

Coconut shreds

Liquid stevia or monk fruit to please a pleasant craving

Mix your components in and also flip the turn on your food processor up until a velvety keto-friendly almond butter begins to form.

And then you'll have your extremely own sugar-free version that takes much less than 30 mins of complete preparation and chef time.

Once it's prepared, package your almond butter in an airtight container or jar and shop it in the refrigerator.

Not just will this maintain your production fresher much longer, it also maintains the natural oils from going rancid since your almond butter will certainly not have any chemicals to maintain it shelf stable.

And if you require concepts on just how else you can enjoy your homemade almond butter, apart from simply inhaling it with a spoon, look into the recipe roundup in the following section.

How To Use Your Almond Butter

With a fresh set of almond butter handy, your options are as wide-reaching as your imagination.

First, you'll desire to change all your old peanut butter dishes with your homemade almond butter.

So if you're made use of to peanut butter in your chia dessert, stir-fry sauces, or keto delicious chocolate peanut butter mug recipes, these can all be replaced with almond butter for the better.

From there, you can likewise add your homemade almond butter to the adhering to keto recipes:

Low Carb Acai Almond Butter Smoothie

Keto Collagen Delicious Chocolate Smoothie

Triple Chocolate Keto Shake

Coconut Delicious Chocolate Collagen Bars ( these preference like a keto-safe Almond Happiness!)

Almond Butter Fat Bombs

Now you can escape and make your own homemade almond butter and also fat bomb recipes.

When searching for keto treats, stay clear of those that have peanut butter and choose ones that make use of almond butter instead, such as Perfect Keto Bars.

Almond Butter Keto Decision: It's Wonderful If You're Smart About It

Nut butters and also almond butter can be a conserving poise in the treat aisle when you're on a ketogenic diet regimen, yet you need to do your research before splurging.

Just like any type of packaged foods you acquisition, you must check out both the nourishment realities and the active ingredient list to see to it it's not simply keto-friendly yet helpful for your health and wellness as well.

Beware of covert sugars, unnecessary included carbs, and various other questionable active ingredients that don't require to be there.

A healthy and balanced, keto-friendly almond butter will have much less than five or 6 whole food ingredients on the tag, no sugarcoated, and also no greater than 3g of internet carbohydrates per serving.

If you do not feel like spending quality time filtering with the numerous brands on the marketplace, you can always reach for this Perfect Keto Nut Butter instead, which integrates macadamia nuts, cashews, coconut butter, and also MCT oil to make the utmost keto snack.

One more last note: as alluring as it can be, all nut and also seed butters require you to practice section control. Because the serving size is so little (usually just two tbsps), it's ultra very easy to go over your carbs accidentally.

Do this and you'll wonder why keto isn't working for you when the response is right under your nose.

So distribute your serving before enjoying your almond and also nut butters to the severe as well as you'll transform this keto staple into a last-minute low-carb lifesaver.

[sherristockman]

Are Baby Carrots as Good for You as Full Size? Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Carrots, and especially baby carrots, are a popular snack in the U.S., for adults and children alike. Parents use the bite-sized, sweet treats in children’s lunches to boost the nutrient value of their mid-day meal. They are easy to dip, snack on and require little to no preparation. Baby carrots today are a breed apart from the original product, which were peeled and reshaped from broken or misshapen larger carrots. California carrot farmer Mike Yurosek was the entrepreneur in the 1980s who reshaped the way you think about carrots.1 As Yurosek’s method of peeling and reshaping has evolved over the years, the popularity of the product has grown. Today, farmers produce hybrid carrots designed to meet the needs of the consumer who wants a fresh out-of-the-bag snack without the hassle of peeling and cleaning. But, does all that convenience come at a price? Do Small Size Carrots Have Full Size Nutrients? Baby carrots appeal to many, as they both taste good and deliver an additional nutritional punch to a diet potentially high in processed foods. Carrots are a root vegetable that are commonly orange in color. Purple, black, red, white and yellow varieties have also been developed, although not as baby carrots. The current 2-inch carrots are cut from a special variety of plant that grows slim and remains tender.2 The ends of the carrots, or broken pieces, are now used for juicing or are processed into cattle feed. The carrots used for baby carrots are grown in close proximity, to encourage the root to grow deep and slender, as well as being harvested approximately 40 to 60 days earlier than full grown variety.3 Baby carrots are also not peeled as they once were. Instead, the carrots are shaped from small, slender carrots that don’t have the characteristic lighter colored core, and then are buffed and polished in a tumble drum.4 According to a comparison between baby carrots5 and full sized carrots6 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release, baby carrots have slightly more water and slightly fewer calories. They each have approximately the same amount of sugar, but baby carrots have less iron, phosphorus and magnesium. Comparing 100 grams of each type of carrot, baby carrots also carry less vitamin A and vitamin C, but significantly more folate than the larger variety. Although the nutrient value between the two types of carrots is not equal, this may be offset if you are more tempted to eat a greater number of baby carrots than you are the larger, thicker variety. Benefits of Carrots and Beta Carotene In this short video, I briefly go over the role and importance of antioxidants to your health. Carrots are a potent source of antioxidants in your diet, including lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin A. Half a cup of chopped carrots, whether the larger or smaller baby carrot, contains over 200 percent of the average daily recommended amount of vitamin A. The high vitamin A content comes from beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in your liver. Beta-carotene is also a strong antioxidant, effective against free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. By developing a habit of including carrots in your daily diet, you will enjoy some important health benefits. ✓ Cancer Antioxidants in carrots may play a role in cancer prevention. Research has demonstrated smokers who eat carrots more than once a week have a lower risk of lung cancer,7 while a beta-carotene-rich diet may also protect against prostate cancer.8,9 Further research demonstrates the association between beta-carotene and a lower risk of colon cancer,10 a positive effect against leukemia,11 and reduced risk of gastric cancer.12 A natural toxin carrots use against fungal disease, falcarinol, may stimulate cancer-fighting mechanisms in your body, and has demonstrated the ability to reduce the risk of tumors in rats.13 ✓ Vision Vitamin A deficiency may cause your eye's photoreceptors to deteriorate, leading to vision problems. Eating foods rich in beta-carotene may restore vision,14 lending truth to the old adage that carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots may reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration15 and the incidence of cataracts.16 Additionally, research shows women may reduce their risk of glaucoma by 64 percent by consuming more than two servings of carrots per week.17 ✓ Heart Health Fruits and vegetables that are deep orange in color are associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Carrots are associated with a 32 percent lower risk of CHD18 and have been associated with a lower risk of heart attacks in women.19 ✓ Metabolic Syndrome Beta-carotene and lycopene, two carotenoids found in carrots, have been associated with a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome in middle aged men.20Metabolic syndrome is associated with heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. ✓ Skin Orange-red vegetables, rich in beta-carotene, may help prevent cell damage and premature skin aging. People who suffer from leukoplakia, white lesions found in the mouth and tongue of people exposed to years of smoking or alcohol consumption, and who took a beta-carotene supplement experienced fewer symptoms.21 Researchers have also found people who suffer from scleroderma, a connective tissue disorder causing hardening of the skin, had low levels of beta-carotene.22 ✓ Oral Health Carrots may help reduce the number of cavities you get and help keep your teeth clean. Saliva is an alkaline substance, helping to reduce bacteria and plaque production on your teeth. Eating carrots helps to increase your production of saliva and stimulates your gums.23 ✓ Brain Health Carrot extract has demonstrated a positive effect on the management of cognitive dysfunction.24 Eating a high number of root vegetables, such as carrots, reduce cognitive decline in middle-aged men and women.25 ✓ Liver Function Carrot extract may also help protect your liver from environmental toxins.26 The hepatoprotective benefits of carrots are experienced with both the vegetable and the extract.27 ✓ Anti-Aging Effects Antioxidants help to ward off the damage caused by free radicals, and are a strong anti-aging force. Carrots are a valuable source of these antioxidants.28 ✓ Anti-Inflammatory The anti-inflammatory properties in carrots are significant even when compared to anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.29 Cutting Carrots May Enhance the Nutrient Value Since baby carrots are buffed, removing the outer protective layer, they require refrigeration to extend their shelf life. Even in the refrigerator, they may start to spoil within 30 days of picking and processing. Many of the health benefits of carrots come from their strong antioxidant activity, which may be enhanced through cooking or cutting the vegetable. Plants have a rudimentary form of communication and a means of protection. In one study, researchers discovered when a tobacco plant was attacked by a specific insect, the plant released a compound that attracted the insect’s predator, thus protecting itself.30 This same process of chemical change may increase the antioxidant concentration in a carrot after it has been cut. Both humans and plants use antioxidants to limit the damaging effects of oxidative reactions and stress in cells. Oxidative stress may predispose you to diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Plant-based phenolic antioxidants may reduce the risk of developing these conditions.31 Some of the phenolic antioxidants produced by plants appear in blood plasma and tissue, which may improve the function of these antioxidants in your body. Studies suggest that wounding a carrot by cutting or shredding will increase the production of antioxidants in the plant. Author of one study, Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, director of the Plant Bioactives & Bioprocessing Research Lab at Texas A&M University, commented:32 “Wounding fresh produce sends a signal to the cells, which perceive that as if they were under attack or facing adverse conditions. As a result, oxidative stress increases in the cell and they start synthesizing antioxidant molecules to protect the cell from that stress.” Researchers found the more the plant was wounded or stressed, the greater the antioxidant production at the cellular level.33 The higher the intensity of the damage, the longer the plant produced antioxidants, measured over four days during the study, making carrots rich sources of phenolic antioxidant compounds. Cooking Your Carrots May Release More Carotenoids Cooking carrots may also increase the level of beta-carotene and phenolic acids produced by the carrot. Since raw carrots have a tough cell wall, less than 25 percent of the beta-carotene in carrots is able to be converted into vitamin A.34 During cooking the cellulose walls are dissolved, freeing up nutrients. An increase in total carotenoids available after steam blanching have been demonstrated. When dehydrated, the carotenoids are protected but do not increase. Another study evaluating the effects of boiling, steaming and frying on carotenoids in vegetables, found steamed vegetables kept the best texture quality, but all three means of cooking demonstrated an overall increase in values.35 Just resist the urge to cut your carrots before cooking to make more antioxidants available for absorption. Baby Carrots Take a Chlorine Bath Part of the process baby carrots undergo before reaching the grocery store is a chlorine bath. The largest carrot farm, Grimmway Farms, reports that chlorine is used on all their baby carrots to prevent food poisoning.36 After their chlorine wash they are rinsed, packaged and shipped. Chlorine is also used to extend the shelf life of the baby carrots.37 As baby carrots begin to age they develop a white appearance on the outer layer. This doesn’t affect the nutrient value of the carrots, but does impact how appetizing they appear. Buffing and processing baby carrots increase the rate at which the carrots begin deteriorating and develop a white blush on the exterior caused from drying out.38 The rate at which this white coating appears will depend upon the condition of the carrots before processing, the amount of abrasiveness of the processing and the humidity levels during storage. Chlorine, used to clean and preserve the carrots, is a common chemical found in your water supply, pesticides, paper and plastics. In the last 30 years, a growing body of evidence has suggested that chlorine and by-products trigger significant negative health conditions. Although the amount of chlorine in baby carrots is minute, it is added to your overall toxic burden from other sources. It isn’t the chlorine that causes the problems, but rather the disinfection byproducts (DBPs) produced when chlorine interacts with organic matter. These byproducts are far more toxic than the chlorine, including trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. In this instance, the term organic is used to mean a compound that is carbon-based. This means these byproducts are produced in all carrots, whether toxic pesticides were used in the growing process or not. Long-term risks of exposure to DBPs include excessive free radical formation, which accelerates aging and vulnerability to gene mutation and cancer. More than 600 DBPs have been discovered, some of which are linked to liver malfunction, arteriosclerotic damage and neurodegenerative changes.39 Scientists are only beginning to understand the long- and short-term impact of chlorine-based chemicals. The healthiest option is to buy whole, unprocessed carrots — ideally organic — then wash, peel and cut them yourself. Create a Super Trio Here are three excerpts from studies showing how ginger, turmeric and carrots — three superfoods — were effective in both treatment and prevention of several cancers: • Ginger: "Although the medicinal properties of ginger have been known for thousands of years, a significant number of in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies further provide substantial evidence that ginger and its active compounds are effective against wide variety of human diseases including GI [gastrointestinal] cancer. Ginger has been found to be effective against various GI cancers such as gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma.”40 • Turmeric: "Curcumin is among the more successful chemopreventive compounds investigated in recent years, and is currently in human trials to prevent cancer. The mechanism of action of curcumin is complex and likely multifactorial. We have made the unexpected observation that curcumin strikingly modulates proteins of iron metabolism in cells and in tissues, suggesting that curcumin has properties of an iron chelator."41 • Carrots: This study has shown that extracts from carrots can induce apoptosis and cause cell cycle arrest in leukemia cell lines.42 Get all three of these powerful antioxidants in one delicious dish: Steam a few cups of carrots in a few tablespoons of water, just until tender-crisp. Add a few teaspoons of butter, sea salt to taste and a half-teaspoon each of grated turmeric and ginger (or half that amount of the ground variety). To serve, mash lightly or serve whole for a wildly healthy, delicious side dish.