Here’s Why Carrot Salads Are The Newest Health Craze On Social Media And Why You Should Eat Them
Countless TikToks have been created by women making carrot salads while raving about its health benefits. But what exactly does it do?
Tiktoker @_paige.nicole_'s video has gained half a million views since she uploaded herself making a carrot salad. "If you know, you know – raw carrot salads," she starts. "And if you don't know, I'm here to tell you all about it." Paige says she surrounds herself with women who are focused on balancing their hormones and "cycle syncing." She adds that women who are menstruating have peaks and spikes of estrogen and progesterone as they get closer to their periods. Hence why she eats carrot salads during this phase – which is also known as the luteal phase – in order to balance the excess estrogen in her body. "Raw carrots will help to balance that ratio of excess estrogen which in turn can cause the, you know, the typical PMS symptoms that we can get," Paige adds.
Carrots Can Help with Your Hormones
Dr. Ray Peat, a biologist and thyroid expert who specializes in hormonal and metabolic health, recommends a daily serving of raw carrots. The reason? Raw carrots have unique fibers that can help detox excess estrogen from the body, just like Paige said in her video. They prevent the reabsorption of estrogen, which promotes weight loss and improves liver function, stool regularity, and the gut biome. “Endotoxin formed in the bowel can block respiration and cause hormone imbalances...so it is helpful to optimize bowel flora, for example with a carrot salad,” Dr. Peat says.
The reason why so many women may feel relief after incorporating raw carrots into their diet could be because of estrogen dominance – simply put, it's when your hormone levels are out of whack and you’ve got too much estrogen. Too much of this hormone can lead to PMS symptoms, endometriosis, weight gain, hormonal acne, blood clotting, fatigue, and PCOS. But what causes estrogen dominance?
Many things can cause women to have an excess amount of estrogen. Unfortunately, our environment contains high amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are found in foods, house supplies, makeup, and even clothes. It’s incredibly difficult to keep your home free of these chemicals, so the best way to combat the imbalances is to limit your exposure and eat in a way that balances your hormones.
So What's the Recipe?
Now that you know a little bit about carrots and hormones, know that the famous carrot salad is often credited to Dr. Peat. Here it is:
One large organic raw carrots
One to two teaspoons of coconut oil and/or olive oil
One teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
A pinch of sea salt
A pinch of black pepper
“A dressing of vinegar, coconut oil, and olive oil, carried into the intestine by the carrot fiber, suppresses bacterial growth while stimulating healing of the wall of the intestine,” adds Dr. Peat.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve been having terrible PMS symptoms or mood swings, this is your sign to make a carrot salad and incorporate it into your daily routine! If you need help eating in accordance with the different phases of your cycle, you can also check out the free cycle-based wellness app 28. Don’t miss anything!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get curated content weekly!