There are some creative new ways to enjoy your vegetables. Recently, chef and content creator Kathy Yong shared a video showcasing her carrot ribbon salad. In it, she demonstrates how to transform carrots into long, thin ribbons for a salad.
Yeung mentioned she needed to leave town soon, and didn’t want her carrots to go to waste. So, she decided to shred them for a more enjoyable eating experience. In the video, she quipped, “It’s not as straight as this,” while referring to the raw carrot. She emphasized, “When I make a carrot ribbon salad, I can literally eat all of these carrots.”
After the carrots, she added green onions, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and chili peppers, mixing everything together to create a vibrant dish. The response from viewers was enthusiastic, with many expressing their love for the salad and motivating others to eat more vegetables.
Interestingly, some were inspired by Yeung’s comment about how carrots are hormone-friendly—suggesting eating them can even be a kind of skincare. This notion, while perhaps a little bold, certainly caught on.
Health Benefits of Eating Carrots
Research has shown that eating carrots can be beneficial for skin health. A 2024 study from Samford University noted that carrots are associated with improved skin health and a lower risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and specific cancers. Interestingly, consuming skin carotenoids three times a week could enhance skin health.
Nutritionally speaking, carrots contain compounds that may help protect the skin by providing hydration, shielding against UV rays, and promoting collagen production, which is key for maintaining elasticity and combating aging, according to nutritionist Erin Palinsky Wade. However, while there isn’t strong scientific backing for carrots being hormone regulators, their high fiber content is beneficial for gut health.
There is ongoing research about gut health’s role in hormonal balance, with some studies linking gut microbiome health to reductions in hormone-related diseases.
Palinsky Wade suggests several ways to incorporate more carrots into your meals. Beyond salads, they can be enjoyed raw as snacks, grated into salads, blended into smoothies, roasted, or added to dishes like casseroles and soups. Carrots can even be used to create sweet or spicy glazes.
