Carrots are rather crunchy and delicious. They are also a great source of manganese, potassium, vitamins C, A, E and K. One cup of carrot juice only gives you 80 calories, which makes it a perfect snack if you want to lose weight. But, the question is, can you eat too many of them?
Can You Eat Too Many Carrots?
You should not eat too many carrots. Although they are delicious and contain lots of health benefits, eating too many of them can also cause side effects.
1. Skin Discoloration
Eating too many carrots can cause skin discoloration because they contain a carotenoid which is known as beta-carotene. Large amounts of beta-carotene could cause your skin to turn into orange in color. This condition is known as carotenemia. Although this condition is reversible and rather harmless, you will be embarrassed with an orange skin.
How Many Carrots Does It Take to Turn Skin Orange?
If you eat about 10 carrots a day for more than two weeks, which means that you consume about 51 g of beta-carotene every day, your skin will turn into orange.
2. Intestinal Discomfort
Can you eat too many carrots? You'd better not. A cup of raw carrots has about 12 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of those are fiber. Even the most modest increase of dietary fiber in your body can disrupt your digestive system. If you consume excess amounts of carrots, the insoluble fiber in them will cause loose stools, gas and other digestive problems.
3. Nutrient Absorption Disturbance
The fiber in carrots is also going to interfere with the absorption of nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. If you consume a lot of carrots, this may cause you to lose lots of valuable and vital nutrients. After a long time, this is going to cause a deficiency.
4. Pesticides
An official institution for pesticide finds that 26 different pesticides are found in carrots. A lot of these pesticides are known to cause cancer, and at least 16 of them are going to interfere with the hormones in your body. If you eat too many carrots, you will suffer more side effect of pesticides.
5. Other Side Effects
Can you eat too many carrots? Eating too many carrots also have other side effects. That’s why you should definitely consume them in moderation.
- Carrots are unsafe for infants: Certain studies find that carrots are rather unsafe for younger children and infants. That’s why you should feed babies carrots with caution.
- Carrots can trigger harmful allergic reactions: There are people who are hypersensitive to carrots. If those people consume carrots, they may suffer from allergic symptoms such as diarrhea, skin rashes, swelling, and hives.
- They have high sugar counts: The glycaemic index of carrots is 97, which means the sugar in carrots is going to raise your overall sugar levels quite quickly, and that’s why diabetics should consume carrots with caution.
- Carrots may cause withdrawal symptoms: Some people will actually develop a compulsive need to consume carrots on a daily basis. This could result in cravings and withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety.
- They aren’t suitable for breastfeeding mothers: This is because they are known for changing the flavor of the breast milk.
- Carrots may interact with certain diseases: There are certain conditions such as diabetes and bowel issues which are going to be negatively impacted by the consumption of carrots, so make sure to be careful.
Healthy Ways to Eat Carrots
Can you eat too many carrots? Now you know the answer. As carrot is actually a very good vegetable, let's learn some ways to eat carrots healthily.
1. With Hummus
Carrots are rich in fiber; therefore they are very suitable to eat with protein. Hummus is a good choice in this regard. With this combination, you will not feel hungry for several hours. Consuming 1/4 cup of hummus along with some carrots sticks is healthy and filling.
2. As a Steamy Side
Steaming carrots along with other foods you are cooking is also a convenient and healthy choice. The steaming process can help you get the nutrients in carrots more efficiently. There are many ways to do this. For example, when you are preparing your pasta, just put a steamer on the pot and put some carrots on it. You will get cooked pasta and carrots at the same time.
3. As a Puree
You can always be sneaky enough to puree the carrots if someone on the table doesn’t like eating them raw. This is convenient to prepare, and easy to be digested. To do this, steam carrots until they get soft. Then put the carrots and some water into a food processor. Puree them thoroughly until a thick and consistent paste forms. Then you can put this puree to whatever dishes you like.