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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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8

Wanna Fight Cancer? Don't Chop Your Carrots

Study finds cut carrots lose anti-cancer compound during cooking

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(Newser) – Carrots preserve 25% more of their cancer-fighting properties if they're not chopped up before cooking, according to a new study. Researchers found that the amount of falcarinol—proven to reduce the risk of tumors by a third in rats—was higher in carrots that had been boiled whole. Carrots that were cooked whole also scored far higher in taste tests, the Independent reports.

"Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are being cooked," the lead researcher explained. "By cooking them whole and chopping them up afterward you are locking in both taste and nutrients."

Carrots that have been cut before cooking lose a quarter of their cancer-fighting properties, according to new research.
Carrots that have been cut before cooking lose a quarter of their cancer-fighting properties, according to new research.   (©dane brian)
Carrots that had been chopped after cooking instead of before retain many more nutrients, including one that reduces cancer tumors by a third in lab rats.
Carrots that had been chopped after cooking instead of before retain many more nutrients, including one that reduces cancer tumors by a third in lab rats.   (©David Tolnem)
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The great thing about this is it's a simple way for people to increase their uptake of a compound we know is good for you. All you need is a bigger saucepan.
- Lead researcher Dr. Kirsten Brandt

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8 comments
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Laugh
Jun 17, 09 7:21 AM CDT
The bigger challenge is to get people to eat carrots at all. Reply
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
hungrydave
Jun 17, 09 7:49 AM CDT
Carrots are delicious! I guess this means that its better to eat whole carrots than baby carrots though?
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IN RESPONSE:
peacenique
Jun 17, 09 8:10 AM CDT
whoa, you'd best Google why you should not eat those pre-washed baby carrots! I solved the carrot dilemma in my family by not cooking my youngest son's carrots at all. Any time I make carrots, I simply separated enough raw ones for him. I don't know too many kids that won't eat raw carrots (maybe add dip!), and they probably get more nutrients out of those than we do cooking them.
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IN RESPONSE:
OriginalMike007
Jun 18, 09 2:32 AM CDT
Pre-washed baby carrots are perfectly safe to eat. Here is what I found when I googled them. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260034 which confirmed my suspicion that like dihydrogen per oxide this is bogus.
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IN RESPONSE:
OriginalMike007
Jun 18, 09 2:33 AM CDT
HungryDave, this means that it is better to COOK whole carrots rather than baby carrots.
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