A nutrition lesson from Marilyn Monroe
It turns out that we can learn more than a couple tips from Marilyn Monroe’s nutrient-dense diet (*ahem* aside from her drug and alcohol intake). She eschewed breads and pastries and greatly favored liver, the most nutrient-dense food on the planet.
Perhaps another secret to keeping her figure? Her daily raw carrots, which she greatly enjoyed and consumed with her evening meal.
What Marilyn Monroe didn’t know was that her daily raw carrots contain a unique property that aids detox and hormone balance! (And it’s not vitamin A, since carrots actually don’t provide vitamin A.)
A carrot a day detoxes estrogen
Raw carrots contain a unique fiber that absorbs excess estrogen and helps sweep it out of the body. Why is this so important?
Our western society faces rampant estrogen dominance because we face an increasing stress burden. Stress, whether physical or emotional, increases the production of estrogen. Additionally, many pesticides and chemicals are xenonestrogens – chemicals which the body perceives as estrogen.
Further, dietary components throw estrogen drastically out of balance. Soy contains phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen in the body. The modern soy craze has devastating effects on hormone balance for men, women and particularly children. Unhealthful “newfangled” fats including all vegetable oils (corn oil, soy oill, safflower oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, etc.) lead to inflammation and increase the estrogenic load.
Estrogen dominance is an underlying cause of PMS, menopausal symptoms, hormonal acne, infertility, and mood disorders. It doesn’t just affect women: men, and particularly pre-pubescent boys, face the threat of estrogen dominance. Lack of muscle tone, erectile dysfunction, and “man boobs” all point in part to estrogen dominance.
By helping to detox some of the excess estrogen, a raw carrot a day plays an important role in both male and female hormone balance.
In my e-book Quit PMS, I explain how to address estrogen dominance naturally through a customizable protocol to end menstrual cramping, hormonal acne, swollen breasts, etc.)
Dr. Ray Peat, who shares controversial and groundbreaking nutrition research, introduced the “Carrot a Day” routine:
Because of my own experience in finding that eating a raw carrot daily prevented my migraines, I began to suspect that the carrot fiber was having both a bowel-protective and an antiestrogen effect. Several women who suffered from premenstrual symptoms, including migraine, had their serum estrogen measured before and after the “carrot diet,” and they found that the carrot lowered their estrogen within a few days, as it relieved their symptoms. (1)
The carrot salad improves the ratio of progesterone to estrogen and cortisol, and so is as appropriate for epilepsy as for premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, or arthritis. (2)
No baby carrots: Beware the LPS!
Purchase whole, medium-sized carrots (preferably organic) from your grocery store or farmer’s market. Do not use pre-peeled baby carrots, since the peel prevents the growth of gram negative bacteria according to Dr. Tom O’Bryan, who discussed this in The Gluten Summit. This was new information to me, and, although it makes sense to me (because the carrot peel protects the carrot as it grows in the soil), I would take it with a grain of salt because I’m having difficulty finding other sources for this information. According to Dr. Tom, Once the carrot is peeled and left in the fridge for a couple of days, it allows gram negative bacteria to flourish. The problem here is that the protective coating on this bacteria contains an endotoxin – a toxic component – called lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
We know that LPS provokes a powerful immune reaction in humans and animals. When we eat a source of LPS, we increase inflammation. Research shows that LPS may lead to leaky gut and contribute to mood disorders including depression.
Dr. Ray Peat also recommends a whole, medium sized carrot so that seems like the safe route to go.
How to eat your carrot a day
- The carrot must be raw, not cooked
- You can enjoy the carrot peeled or washed and not peeled.
- Ideally, eat it in-between meals and not with meals
- Eat it whole or prepare the Detox Carrot Salad, a recipe from Mama Natural. You coarsely grate the carrot and add coconut oil, vinegar and salt. The salad is my favorite way to enjoy my raw carrot a day – it’s delicious!
Are you up for the carrot a day remedy? Have you heard of it before?
Hi
This article is amazing. I have missed periods since three month due to harmone imbalance after the marriage. Also, did not conceive yet. Will eating carrot help to have a periods
Hi
I had hormonal imbalance for quite sometime now and I could see my periods, I started eating raw carrots everyday and warm water every morning. I am started seeing my periods every month now. Carrot does work I tell you. I just wish I knew long time ago.
I ment I couldn’t see my periods.
Hey Lauren!
Thank you so much for this article. I found it fascinating and was unaware that a simple, delicious carrot could be so powerful. My only question is this…I actually love carrots and munch on them quite frequently throughout the day. Im curious if there could be any negative impacts from eating too many carrots? I have always been an athlete and when I was a competitive runner/athlete, I experienced some hormonal imbalance. Ive since become more regular, but my periods are still only a few days in length and fairly light after the first day/second day. Could excess carrot consumption damper estrogen too much? Thanks for all of your work and help! Ive been following your work for many years and you are such a blessing to the world!
Hi,
How long will it take to feel a difference?
Thanks!
Wow, these carrots are indeed wonderful! This is the first time I heard about carrots can detox hormones. I’ll share this with my students.
Hi, I have endometriosis and fibroids and wanted to know if carrots could help me . I am reading women who don’t get periods start getting by consuming carrots . I get 14 day periods . Would this help . Thanks for replying
A carrot a day is truly the most beneficial thing you can do to promote overall health and live a long life, if you do not indulge in alcohol, smoking or excessive sugar this is an incredible easy thing to do, and the bonus is when you add an onion a day no cold or flu will come your way. Great health is doing simple effective things. As it has been said- just do it!
I’m always skeptical of things but I have been eating about 5 carrots a week, not quite one a day and have noticed a difference. I used to get terrible cramps and since I had my 3rd baby after my period came back, it would last 10 to 12 days. Only a few days after I started the carrot eating, I got my period and had almost no cramps and it only lasted 5 days. This has gone on for 4 months now!
What about for women with hysterectomy on estrogen replacement?
I started eating one carrot a day.
I noticed a substantial decrease of PMS symptoms (insomnia, cramping, sore breasts, intensity and length of period). What an easy way to alleviate such inconvenient symptoms.
love the carrots!!!