Dr. Becky Maes - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Becky Maes

Are Carrots Bad For You?

Also Known As: daucus carota subsp. sativus


Grade

A


Short answer

No, carrots are not bad for you.

Grade

A


Long answer

Is It Bad For You has a separate post that looks at claims made about baby carrots - mainly, that they're soaked in chlorine and therefore dangerous. Those claims are mostly false. But what about regular carrots? Are they dangerous?

Probably not. Carrots are rich in a chemical called carotenoids. They give them their orange color. They're also chemicals where your body can get retinol. That's a form of Vitamin A that keeps your eyes working right. Beta-carotene can also lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Carrots also have alpha-carotene, which some research suggests has similar antioxidant properties. You get the most of these nutrients, however, if you cook your carrots as opposed to eating them raw.

Vegetarians, the very young, and those with light complexions may be worried about carotenosis. That's a condition that can come from the ingestion of too much carotene. Your skin might take on a slight orange cast. The condition is harmless and easily reversible.

It is in almost all cases, at least. There's at least one recorded case of a man overdosing on carrots - rather, of a man overdosing on vitamin A via carrots. Basil Brown consumed 10 gallons of carrot juice and exceeded FDA limit for vitamin A intake ten thousand times over in a week and a half. His liver failed and he died. If you're thinking about drinking 10 gallons of carrot juice, think of Basil Brown instead.

Carrots do have some sugar in them. Keeping sugar at a healthy level in your diet is important to your teeth, your heart, and your waistline. There's not significantly more sugar in carrots than in other vegetables, however. And that sugar is blunted by a healthy dose of fiber, which helps protect your cardiovascular system from a sudden rush of digested sugar and is vital to the health of your gut.

Carrots are grown different ways by different farms. Some may have been grown with pesticides or herbicides. Others may have different soil bacteria before they've been washed. Remember to practice common-sense food safety and to rinse your carrots of dirt, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals before cooking with them.


Possible short-term side effects

  • vitamin a toxicity (when consumed in extreme amounts)

Ingredients to be aware of



Benefits

  • promotes healthy skin and eyes
  • reduces risk of cancer
  • reduces risk of heart disease
  • reduces risk of stroke
  • slows the aging process
  • boosts the immune system
  • assists cleanse the liver of toxins

Healthier alternatives

  • cooked carrots, instead of raw



Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources | Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 11-18-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016

Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 11-18-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016




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