Raw Carrot Salad

Recipe for digestion, detoxification, and hormone balance

I am sure by now you have heard me talk about the raw carrot salad-

But why??

Raw Carrot Salad

Carrots // Vinegar // Oil

Sex Hormone Balancing // Eliminating Excess Estrogen // Healthy Bowel Movements // Detoxification // Stomach Acid, Bile, & Enzyme Production // Better Nutrient Absorption // Insulin Sensitivity // Metabolic Health

Estrogen Dominance

The raw carrot salad is particularly aimed at combatting something called estrogen dominance: when estrogen is elevated, and/or progesterone is low.

Our modern world has us coming into contact with more phyto & xenoestrogens than ever from the food we eat, and the products that we use.

On top of this, modern lifestyles have many things working against fertility, & specifically female hormone balance.

Most women are now expected to work a 9-5, participate in the “hustle'“ culture with toxic & highly stressful environments, are constantly overstimulated by the news, social media, television…

Women are told that high intensity cardio training is what’s best for their health, that they should be constantly restricting calories, and that they should get on birth control because “it will fix their PMS” and “children will ruin their career & their body”…

All of these things contributing to the rise in estrogen, and the lowering of progesterone.

The Decline in Fertility

Progesterone is the fertility hormone; not estrogen.

Fertility = an optimally working & thriving body. The most vibrant, robust version of yourself. High progesterone, & balanced estrogen.

For fertility, a woman’s body must feel safe and nourished. Think about it - it isn’t evolutionarily smart to become pregnant in a stressful or dangerous environment. Fertility is down-regulated by design.

The problem is, modern life has so many artificial / man made stressors working against us - toxins, stress, overstimulation, blue light, overly intense exercise, nutrient deficiencies - which is contributing to the drop in progesterone & rise in estrogen, & therefore infertility.

Cue terrible PMS, irregular cycles, PCOS, endometriosis, metabolic dysfunction, weight gain, chronic fatigue, and even breast cancer…

We are also seeing these changes in men, with elevated estrogen and reduced testosterone.

Dr. Ray Peat

The Raw Carrot Salad was formulated by a man named Dr. Ray Peat - women’s health, metabolism, and hormone pioneer & researcher.

He found that women struggling with PMS, weight gain, infertility, & other symptoms of estrogen dominance were able to lower their estrogen, & increase progesterone through simple, nutrient dense nutrition, and of course, raw carrot salad.

His findings are backed by research about the effects of pectin - the predominant fiber in raw carrots - & estrogen balance.

It works by binding to the excess estrogen & endotoxins in the gut, and drawing them out of the body so that they are not reabsorbed.

This is a simple, “food as medicine”, whole food “supplement” that you can add to your daily routine to support the detoxification of excess estrogen and other toxins that we come into contact with each day.

Raw Carrot Salad Recipe

There are many renditions of the raw carrot salad, but the main idea is carrots, vinegar, and oil. Here are a few different versions:

The OG Raw Carrot Salad

By Ray Peat himself:

• 1 large carrot - shredded length wise (best with a peeler!)

• 1-2 tsp coconut oil - or MCT oil

• 1-2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Syd’s Way: Mediterranean Raw Carrot Salad

As a lover of Italian & Greek style cuisine, here is my Mediterranean version of the raw carrot salad:

• 1 large carrot - shredded length wise

• 1-2 tsp olive oil

• 1-2 tsp balsamic vinegar

• chopped basil

• optional fresh mozzarella, burrata, or feta

• optional olives & red onion

Raw Carrot Fruit Salad

• 1 large carrot - shredded length wise

• chopped seasonal & local fruit - peaches, strawberries, banana

• juice from 1/2 a lemon

• 1 tsp honey

• optional chopped mint leaf

Raw Carrot Egg Salad

Have your raw carrot egg salad on the side, or as a meal. This would be amazing on sourdough bread!

• 1 large carrot - shredded length wise

• 1-2 boiled eggs

• 1-2 tsp olive oil

• 1-2 tsp vinegar of choice - white, red, apple cider, balsamic

• seasonal / local chopped vegetables - tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions

• feta or cheese of choice

• salt + pepper to taste

Why you should be eating Raw Carrot Salad

The benefits are obvious for both men and women to be getting fiber from a more easily digestible source such as carrots - a root vegetable - to eliminate excess estrogen & endotoxins from the gut. It is a simple, affordable, and attainable way for you to improve many aspects of your health using food as medicine.

Why Oil?

Healthy fats from minimally processed oils like coconut and olive oil help to lubricate the digestive tract. They can also provide a fungicidal effect, helping to balance the gut microbiome!

Why Vinegar?

Vinegar has been shown to improve metabolic health, the gut microbiome, and the release of stomach acid & digestive enzymes!

When should I eat it?

I recommend eating this raw carrot salad DAILY, especially if you have signs & symptoms of estrogen dominance.

For the optimal digestive benefits of vinegar, I recommend eating this before your main meal to stimulate the release of stomach acid & digestive enzymes.

Get Creative!

Get creative with your raw carrot salad using the ingredients you have locally, and PLEASE comment or send me any great recipes you come up with!

Be Wild & Well,

Syd