Carrots are incredibly healthy vegetables and are a great source of vitamins such as vitamin A and B6 and beta-carotene. Carrots have a number of health benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving eye health. The large amount of carotene antioxidants found in carrots has also been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. But did you know that carrots are also incredibly effective at clearing phlegm from your lungs?
Aside from improving your vision and fighting against cancer, the amount of vitamin A in carrots has been shown to help strengthen the immune system.
Carrots have also been shown to help reduce symptoms of respiratory problems, specifically asthma.
In this study, each group of subjects were fed an abundance of different types of fruit or vegetables. The study found that the group that ate an abundance of carrots had the lowest prevalence of asthma.
All of these properties make carrots a great ingredient in any natural, cough-curing remedies. The fact that they are a natural respiratory-aid and have also been shown to strengthen the immune system makes them perfect for fighting a cold or any other sickness that effects the respiratory tract.
Honey is also an effective cough-remedy, as it has been proven to help reduce coughing in individuals who suffer from respiratory illnesses.
Here is a quick, simple and all-natural remedy that will help you stay healthy this winter.
Homemade cough syrup- Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 kg of carrot
- 3-4 spoons of honey
Directions:
- Dice the carrots into small pieces and place them in a pot.
- Fill the pot with water until the carrots are submerged and boil until they soften
- Remove them from the pot (keep the leftover water) and mash them with a fork or spoon.
- Mix the left over carrot-water with your honey
- Combine the Honey-carrot-water with the mashed carrots and mix.
- Store in cold temperature
Usage:
This mixture can be consumed on a regular basis. Take 3-4 spoons of it per day, and if you were suffering from any respiratory problems you should start to feel a difference after the first or second day.
Sources:
Carrots: http://authoritynutrition.com/foods/carrots/
Carrots and asthma: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1974844/
Honey and coughing: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4399406/
Image Source:
http://www.etonliving.com/wp-content/uploads/msp.jpg
