Carrot juice benefits

Whether roasted, boiled, sliced or stir-fried, there’s no doubt that carrots are one of the nations favourite vegetables. According to a recent survey, carrots were the most popular vegetable in the United Kingdom, second only to potatoes.¹

With a sweet, earthy and slightly bitter flavour, it’s easy to see why this versatile veg continues to be beloved on dinner plates across the country.

But what about carrot juice? While becoming increasingly common in smoothies and juices, carrots aren’t quite as popular as classics like orange or apple.² However, with plenty of reported health benefits and a deliciously sweet flavour, it’s definitely worth thinking about adding carrot juice to your fridge.

What is carrot juice?

There’s no surprise that carrot juice comes from, well, carrots. It’s possible to buy pre-made carrot juice from supermarkets and health stores, although you can make carrot juice at home with a little bit of effort too. Carrot juice is often mixed with other fruits and vegetables, like oranges, apples, celery, or cucumber. It can sometimes be flavoured with ginger, cinnamon, or honey too.³

By itself, carrot juice has a sweet, smooth taste with slightly bitter undertones. The root vegetable pairs well with lots of other fruits and vegetables, making it the ideal choice for juices and smoothies.⁴

Health benefits of carrot juice

Carrot juice is an excellent addition to a healthy and balanced diet. It’s low in calories while providing plenty of essential nutrients. A cup typically offers 96 calories and high vitamin A, C, K, and potassium levels.

There is a wide range of reported carrot juice health benefits. Some of these might include:

• Eye health⁵
• Anti-oxidant effect⁶
• Immune system health⁷
• Blood sugar maintenance⁸
• Heart health⁹
• Skin health¹⁰
• Supports liver function¹¹

It’s worth considering that studies into the health benefits of carrots are reasonably limited. Not all of them have been tested on humans. Plus, some of the reviews were conducted with particular carrots, meaning their results might not apply to all carrot juice varieties.

As always, it’s essential to speak to your doctor if you have any health concerns. Remember to enjoy carrot juice as part of a nutritious and balanced diet.

Who should avoid carrot juice?

Carrot juice is generally thought to be safe for most people. However, there are some things to bear in mind.

While carrot juice is a tasty way to get essential vitamins and minerals into your diet, it contains less fibre and more sugar than eating the whole vegetable. It may be worth limiting your intake to one small glass a day and making sure to eat plenty of other fruits and vegetables throughout the day too.¹² This is especially important if you have other health conditions that are affected by what you eat.

Drinking too much carrot juice could also lead to a condition called carotenemia, which turns the skin an orange-yellow colour. This is due to the high levels of beta carotene in carrots. While it’s not usually a serious or harmful condition, it can be quite alarming. It usually goes away by itself when you stop eating or drinking as many carrots.¹³

Last updated: 8 April 2021