CARROTS TACTIC IN WORLD WAR II
During the Blitzkrieg in World War II the biggest threat to Great Britain was the frequent bombing night raids by the German army. Therefore, the British had to devise a plan to beat the German Luftwaffe. The British Air Force finally managed to repel them by successfully detecting German aircrafts and bombers on dark and foggy nights. How did they do it, though? – Carrots! At least that’s what the British made the Germans believe…
The story was created by the former UK Government’s Food Ministry to cover up the radar stations that were set up to pinpoint German bombers at night-time – a feat that was previously thought impossible. Through propaganda campaigns the Brits convinced the Germans that the excessive eating of carrots improves vision in the dark. From that point on, the orange root vegetable was an essential ingredient in the British diet and children were even given carrots on a stick as a wartime ice lolly alternative.
CARROTS IN SPACE
It was February, 20 1960 when US astronaut John Glenn became the first man to eat anything in space on board the space shuttle Friendship 7: applesauce in tubes, sugar cubes and water. Such limited menu wasn’t linked to the shortness of flight (less than 5 hour), but it was due to the fear that food could stop in the astronaut’s throat because of the absence of gravity. Glenn, fortunately, didn’t choke and demonstrated that eating in space was possible.
During spaceflight, fresh fruits and vegetables have a short shelf life. They must be eaten within the first week of flight. Carrots and celery sticks are the most perishable items in the fresh food locker. They must be eaten within the first 2 days of flight. This is because the locker they are stored in is not only unrefrigerated, but is also located near electrical equipment. The equipment raises the temperature in the trays to around 29 to 32 degrees Celsius (85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). This extra heat quickens the spoilage of the fresh food stored in the locker.
CARROT FACTS
1. First Use
People first grew carrots as medicine, not food, for a variety of ailments.
2. Carrot Colours
We think of carrots as orange, but they can also be white, yellow, red, and purple.
3. A medium-size carrot has:
- 25 calories
- 6 grams of carbs
- 2 grams of fiber.
The veggie is an excellent source of vitamin A, providing more than 200% of your daily requirement in just one carrot. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, a natural chemical that the body changes into vitamin A. The deeper orange the carrot, the more beta-carotene you’re getting.