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Carrots: 5 Side Effects You Should Know

Learn how this nutritious veggie can harm your health before you reach for that next bite.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Geeta Dharmatti, RD

Dr. Geeta Dharmatti is the Director and Founder of Geeta Nutriheal Consultancy (Nutrition Services Consultancy) and an Executive Member of the Indian Dietetic Association. She has done her Masters in Nutrition and PhD in Clinical Nutrition.... more

Written by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health Experience: 8 years

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• Nov 9, 2023

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Several side effects of carrots may make you think twice before consuming them. This crunchy veggie has a rich nutritional profile. It is a good source of beta-carotene, an important provitamin. In the body, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A.

Nevertheless, carrots can have unpleasant effects if consumed in excess. They can be severe in some cases. This article examines the side effects of carrots, their safety, and their recommended intake. Read on.

Know The Flip Side: Carrot

Short-Term Effects
May cause allergic reactions such as lip-swelling and even cause flatulence or gas.

Long-Term Effects
May cause vitamin A toxicity and skin discoloration.

Drug Interactions
May interact with diabetic medication.

When To See A Doctor
If you experience any symptoms such as itching or irritation in the eyes or nose, seek medical help immediately.

In This Article

What Are The Side Effects Of Carrots?

1. May Cause Vitamin A Toxicity

Woman vomiting due to vitamin A toxicity

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In a case report, an individual who consumed excess of carrots was hospitalized on the grounds of abdominal pain. His liver enzymes were found to have elevated to abnormally high levels (1). The patient was diagnosed with a mild case of vitamin A toxicity. Levels of vitamin A up to 10,000 IU have been considered safe. Anything beyond that could be toxic (2). Half a cup of carrot has 459 mcg of beta-carotene, which is about 1,500 IU of vitamin A.

Vitamin A toxicity is also called hypervitaminosis A. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of hair, fatigue, and nose bleeding (3).

Toxicity occurs because vitamin A is fat-soluble. Any excess vitamin A not required by the body will be stored in the liver or fat tissue. This can lead to the accumulation of vitamin A over time and eventual toxicity (4).

Chronic vitamin A toxicity can affect multiple organ systems. It can inhibit bone formation, leading to weaker bones and fractures. Long-term vitamin A toxicity may also affect kidney function (5).

Trivia

California produces over 85% of all the carrots grown in the United States of America.

2. Can Cause Allergies

Woman rubbing her eyes due to carrot allergy

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Though carrot alone is rarely responsible for allergies, it may cause reactions when consumed as part of other foods. In a report, the ingestion of carrot contained in an ice cream caused allergic reactions (6).

Carrot allergies may affect over 25% of individuals with food allergies. This could be associated with their allergy to specific carrot proteins (7). Individuals with pollen food syndrome are the most likely to be allergic to carrots (8).

Symptoms of carrot allergy include itching, hives, skin rash or swelling of the lips and irritation of the eyes and nose (9). In rare situations, carrot intake may also lead to anaphylaxis (6).

Patti Murin, a blogger, shared her bad experience with carrots and how it caused an allergic reaction in her personal blog. She writes, “When I ate a carrot, my lips would get itchy (i).” She also shares how the itching would naturally lead to facial swelling and redness as well, as the allergic reaction increased. She mentions an incident where she drank carrot juice and had to be rushed to the ER, writing, “The ambulance took about 10 minutes to arrive and in that time, my tongue swelled up to the size of my mouth, my breathing canal was getting thinner, and I could no longer speak.”

3. May Cause Flatulence

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Certain individuals may find carrots difficult to digest, which may cause indigestion or stomach cramps. This can get aggravated if you have too many of them, eventually leading to flatulence (or stomach gas) (10).

4. Might Be Unsafe For Infants

This has more to do with the size of the carrots. Carrot sticks carry the risk of choking infants (11). Hence, you may want to limit the amount of carrots you are giving to your infants. More importantly, make them into a paste.

5. Can Cause Skin Discoloration

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Eating too many carrots can cause a harmless condition called carotenemia. This is caused by too much beta-carotene in your bloodstream, which causes either orange coloring of skin or urine, or both (12).

Carotenemia is highly unlikely unless you are on a restricted diet in which you are required to eat too many carrots for a long time. One medium carrot contains about 4 milligrams of beta-carotene. Consuming more than 20 milligrams of beta-carotene every day for a few weeks can cause skin discoloration (12).

Fun Fact

The average person will consume around 10,000 carrots in their lifetime.

These are the side effects of carrots you need to be wary about. But as discussed, eating too many of them in a day is a problem. Otherwise, they are among the healthiest foods you can snack on.

How Many Carrots Can You Eat In A Day?

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One medium carrot contains about 509 micrograms (RAE, or retinol activity equivalent) of vitamin A (13).

The tolerable upper level of vitamin A to prevent toxicity is 3,000 micrograms RAE per day (14).

This equates to about five to six carrots. Do not to go beyond this. Sticking to three to four carrots a day should be the safe option.

Trivia

The orange carrot we know today was created by Dutch growers in the 16th century. They took different mutations of the purple carrot and made the orange variant.

Infographic: Serious Side Effects of Eating Carrot

Carrot is a delicious vegetable that provides a host of health benefits. However, many people do not know that overconsumption can cause severe side effects. Check out the infographic below to understand the serious side effects of eating too many carrots.

serious side effects of eating carrot (infographic)

Carrots are highly nutritious root vegetables with many medicinal properties. If taken regularly, their rich antioxidant profile can benefit you in many ways. However, excess consumption of carrots (having more than four per day) may lead to several side effects. This is equally true with carrot juice. A cup (236 grams) of carrot juice contains over 45,000 IU of vitamin A. Overconsumption of carrots may cause vitamin A toxicity, allergies, flatulence, and skin discoloration. It is also unsafe for infants. Hence, eat them in the recommended amounts to avoid any adverse reactions. Consult your health care provider in case of any medical emergencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are raw carrots safe to eat?

Yes. According to Julianna Coughlin, MS, RD, LDN, “Carrots are a great source of vitamin C and vitamin A and can definitely help with so many things. It’s advised to not eat carrots if you have an allergy or an intolerance, but other than that, they are largely excepted as safe. They can positively impact the gut microbiome because of the fiber they provide.” However, the intake of too many raw carrots may cause intestinal issues and also interfere with nutrient absorption.

Do carrots make you gain weight?

No. Carrots consumption is linked with weight loss due to their high water and fiber content (16), (17).

Are carrots good before bed?

Carrots are not good before bed due to the presence of carotenoids, which are positively associated with shorter sleep duration (18).

Key Takeaways

Excess consumption of carrots can cause one to develop turn orange skin or carotenemia.
Overconsumption of carrot juices can lead to gas and bloating.
Carrots can cause vitamin A toxicity, which results in dry skin, hair loss, and joint pain.
Carrots might cause itching, swollen lips, or irritation of the eyes and nose in some individuals.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

While carrots are beneficial, it’s important to be aware of potential side effects. Explore 5 crucial considerations in this insightful video. Stay informed!

Personal Experience: Source

StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Last Week, Carrots Tried to Kill Me.
https://pattimurin.blog/2015/11/07/last-week-carrots-tried-to-kill-me/

References

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