In the previous issue, Swami Ji had described the medicinal values of carrot in the article titled "Qualities of Carrot". Here he is giving detailed information about the best ways of eating carrot.

Carrot is a tuber root form of vegetable, which can also be eaten raw. The quality of carrot can be recognized with its color. A good carrot is one, which is deep yellow or red in color. Its leaves are green and very thin in texture. Carrot contains all the necessary elements required for the nutrition of the body. It is very beneficial to improve the memory and intelligence. Its regular consumption for few days helps in reducing the weight, however it should be consumed in a proper manner.

Carotene found in carrot is a form of Vitamin A. This substance is found in different fruits and vegetables as well.

Carrot is most beneficial when it is eaten raw. Eat raw carrot everyday in the morning, this reduces overweight and strengthens the teeth and gums. It is a good idea to remain on carrot diet for three days. Replace lunch with carrot salad. In case you are not satisfied with the diet, then take a hot glass of cow milk along with honey.

Do not take any thing else except carrot and milk with honey. You can drink water to quench your thirst. Carrot juice is more beneficial when compared to carrot. You can also take 50 to 200 gm of carrot juice twice daily. This diet is a sort of fasting and also supplies nutritional elements to the body. You can add glucose to make it tastier and healthier. Those who can not keep fast or can not live without eating grains and cereals, they can eat carrot vegetable without curry. It should be cooked with black pepper, cumin seeds, coriander and common salt. Use anardana instead of dry mango powder. This vegetable can be eaten raw without chapattis as well. You can take one or two chapattis and eat more vegetable.

Carrot vegetable is very tasty and can be eaten as it is. You can also make carrot raita like gourd or cucumber raita. Wash the carrot and grate it nicely, put it in beaten curd and add salt, black pepper and roasted cumin seeds. You can also add roasted cumin seeds in vegetable or raita. There is no need to boil the carrot to make raita or peel the skin. Separate the middle yellow portion and make sweet marmalade. Take a big carrot and cut it into slices, sometimes it is soaked in limewa-ter for eight hours and then soaked in sugar syrup. This marmalade is very delicious. You can garnish it with small cardamom, vansh lochan and silver covering. This gives great strength and enthusiasm.

GAJAR KA HALVA

This sweet dish is extremely delicious and nutritious. However there is no need to add khoya as the shopkeepers do. Here we are giving the method to prepare halva in order to increase its medicinal qualities.

Wash the carrots and grate it. Now, pour cow milk in a large pan and put it on flame, add the grated carrot when the milk begins to boil and stir it with a big spoon. Add some sugar candy when the milk begins to thicken and stir again.

Remove the halva from flame when it is ready. Add small cardamom, vansh lochan and saffron. This sweet dish is nutritious and gives a good figure. Around 25 gm of this halva can be taken every morning and an equal quantity in the afternoon as well. If 3 gm of honey in each serving is added it becomes more beneficial. Drink a glass of hot cow milk added with sugar candy over it. Chapatti or some light lunch can be taken along with this halva.

CARROT AND GINGER

Combination of carrot and ginger is very beneficial. Ginger increases the digestive elements, therefore carrot is easily digestible

Grate  the  carrot, chop the ginger, add both the things and rinse in water. Serve it in a plate, sprinkle common salt, roasted cumin seeds powder and lemon juice.

This is very healthy and nutritious item, which provides strength and energy; it also improves the digestion process. It contains vitamin A and C. It is tasty and improves the appetite. It can be a regular item on the breakfast table or a good substitute for the afternoon snacks.

Breakfast should contain a ripe guava along with carrot - ginger salad. The afternoon snacks should also be taken in the same way. Take hot milk at bedtime if desired. You can also add radish in the salad, it is very tasty and nutritious.

Vegetable soup is a very healthy dish. To prepare it, boil guava, tomato, carrot, radish and ginger in equal quantities and sieve it. Add lemon juice and take only this soup for three, five or seven days. Do not take any other grain or cereal; you might not need any medicine at all.

OTHER WAYS OF EATING CARROT

Carrot is available only in the winter season. A sweet marmarmalade can be prepared so that  it  can  be  taken throughout  the   year.

There are other ways of eating carrot. Steam cook carrot, rose flowers and aniseed and extract the juice. Add two kilos of carrot pieces, 400 gm of aniseed and 10 kilos of water, sieve this water and make sugar syrup, cool it and use it.

Take 25 gm of this, drink at least four times everyday. It is very beneficial in case of heart diseases. You can also take it with orange, sweet limejuice. Carrot and rose squash can be taken in any season. Therefore you can enjoy the qualities of carrot even in off-season.

During summers, take equal quantities of fresh water, orange juice and the rose-carrot squash, add citric acid and drink it. Live only on this water for three or five days, on the first day take one light meal and second day take orange juice with lemon juice. In this way maintain this diet for at least one week. Carrot diet can be planned depending on the patient's condition and strength. Carrot is beneficial in all circumstances; its seed is also very beneficial. Ground 300 gm of carrot seeds and boil in 500 gm of water. Boil till it reduces to half the quantity, add sugar. Give this syrup to women who are suffering with irregular menstrual cycle. All sorts of irregularities are cured within few days of consuming this drink.

Take 100 gm each of carrot and jaggery, boil both the things in 750ml of water. Boil till the carrot is cooked. Eat this dish with silver covering for two to three days on empty stomach in the morning. This medicine is very beneficial for liver disorders and especially jaundice.

Grate one kilo of carrot, boil it in four kilos of milk and add sugar. Add 250 gm of pure ghee when the milk dries up completely and roast it for some time. Eat this dish for one month regularly, this cures impo-tency. It also strengthens the brain.

Physically weak males and females should drink 200 gm of carrot juice everyday. This is the best medicine to overcome physical weakness.

Carrot is good for those children who are getting new teeth. Give carrot juice everyday, this strengthens the teeth and bones.

In case of intestine swelling carrot proves to be very beneficial. Add 200 gm of carrot juice, 100 gm each of cucumber and beetroot juice and drink it for one week for curing intestine swelling problem.

Breast-feeding mothers should drink carrot juice everyday for increasing breast milk. It also develops attractive and healthy breasts.

Anaemic people should drink 200 gm of carrot juice with 100 gm of spinach juice. This increases the blood and hemoglobin content.

Sometimes the heart starts beating faster or perspiration increases with slightest work. In this case drink 200 gm of carrot juice for one week. The carotene present in carrot is effective in curing cancer.

Carrot leaves are also very beneficial. Apply a little bit of ghee on the leaves and heat them slightly, grind and extract the juice. Pour few drops in the nostrils to cure migraine problem completely.

People suffering with night blindness should drink carrot juice regularly. Vitamin A present in carrot is beneficial in this disease.

Carrot is the best medicine for curing insomnia. Drink carrot juice at least 30 to 40 minutes before going to bed.

Burning sensation and pain in the rectum can also be cured with carrot. Drink one glass of carrot juice twice daily for some months to cure this problem permanently.