Properties of carrots as a vegetable and fruit
An obligatory crop for gardeners is always an orange root vegetable, which is used fresh, in seaming and pickles, and added to various dishes. A dilemma arose: carrots - a vegetable or a fruit.
Properties of carrots as a vegetable and fruit
Plant history
Carrots began to be cultivated in the 3rd century. BC e., the territory of Afghanistan is considered its homeland. It was raised for animal feed. It differed from its modern counterparts: it was purple or white, had a bitter and pungent taste. People used the top of the plant (flowers and leaves) as a seasoning for food.
In ancient Greece, they did not ask the question whether carrots are a fruit or a vegetable, but they used it in the same way as in the Middle East. The Greek philosophers Teforast and Dioscorides gave the root crop special names: karaton and stafilinos. Hippocrates also mentioned it in his works on the nature and properties of plants. Thanks to Pliny, the carrot was called the field parsnip. The ancient healer Avicenna attributed the properties of an aphrodisiac to her.
The main food ration for horses in the XII century. on the territory of Europe there was exactly a carrot plant in its entirety. But already at the end of the 16th century. Dutch breeders were able to produce an orange root crop with a more pleasant flavor. Thus, work began on improving the quality and appearance of the culture, which continues to this day.
Theories about carrot ownership
It is common for modern people to say that carrots are a vegetable. But for some, the argument that carrots are a fruit is also correct. A dilemma arises, generated by differences of opinion between different points of view.
After analyzing both, they get the answer, a carrot is a fruit or vegetable:
- On December 20, 2001, the European Union adopted a Directive that introduced products such as watermelon, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, melon, ginger, tomatoes and carrots to the list of fruits. Carrots appeared there back in 1991: the jam from this root vegetable was a trademark preservation of Portugal, and it was illegal to sell vegetable jam. As a result, lawmakers decided that the assertion that carrots are a fruit would fix the situation and circumvent awkward rules.
- According to botany, fruits are plants that form the fruits that are eaten after flowering. These include bell peppers, corn, beans, peas, beans, pumpkin, zucchini, melon, eggplant, watermelon, tomatoes, etc. The same crops have seeds inside the fruit, which are used for reproduction and sowing. Vegetables represent several groups: root vegetables (beets, parsnips, radishes, potatoes), leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach, dill), stems (celery, ginger, rhubarb), flower buds (cauliflower, broccoli). According to this distribution, carrots are a vegetable that belongs to the group of root vegetables.
Useful properties of a root vegetable
Vegetable has fat burning properties
Whatever the name of this garden culture in different parts of the world, it has a large amount of nutrients, for which it is appreciated and loved. Carrots are rich in sugar, which makes up about 12% of the total root vegetable.It is represented by glucose compounds that are safe for people with diabetes to consume.
The plant contains fiber, which often becomes an indispensable element of the diet in many diet programs. It is useful in that it is able to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, removing toxins and excess deposits from it. It is used in the same way as a fat burning agent.
The mineral component in the root vegetable is represented by such elements as potassium, copper, cobalt, iron, which replenish the necessary reserves of these units in the human body. In combination with natural acids - pantothenic and ascorbic, - they are able to optimize the production of blood cells, increase immunity, and protect against exhaust poisoning. These chemical elements improve the diuretic and choleretic functions of the body.
The main property of carrots is the high content of carotene, which is transformed into vitamin A. It is under its influence that the walls of blood vessels are strengthened, the work of the heart muscle improves, and therefore it is useful for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Vitamins of groups B, E, K, D also have a positive effect on the human body, helping to improve vision, overcome vitamin deficiency, and maintain health for the elderly.
Conclusion
According to historical data, until 1705, the concept of “fruit” did not exist in Russia, so they used to call a carrot a vegetable. Now the achievements of botany and some legislative facts make one doubt the long-accepted truths, because there was an opinion that this culture is fruit. No matter how you call this root crop, its beneficial properties for humans remain the main ones.