What are the benefits of carrot juice?
by Karine Lemoine
Carrot juice has an orange color that is not deceiving: it is particularly rich in beta-carotene, the pigment that the body transforms into vitamin A. But what do we really know about its contributions?
Without making excessive promises, there is solid nutritional data on what a glass of carrot juice can contribute to a varied diet.
Table of Contents
Here's what we know about its vitamin A, antioxidant, and other nutrient intakes, and its limitations.
An important source of beta-carotene and vitamin A
A glass of carrot juice largely covers, or even exceeds, the recommended daily intake of vitamin A for an adult.The beta-carotene it contains is a precursor to vitamin A: the body converts it according to its needs, which limits the risk of overdose compared to taking vitamin A directly as a supplement.
Vitamin A has a documented role in vision (including night vision), the maintenance of healthy skin and mucous membranes, and the functioning of the immune system.
Antioxidants and other useful nutrients
Beyond beta-carotene, carrots contain other carotenoids (like alpha carotene and lutein), as well as a small amount of vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. Together with other contributions from a balanced diet, these antioxidant compounds contribute to limiting oxidative stress in the body, a phenomenon associated with cellular aging and certain chronic diseases.
However, carrot juice is still low in fiber compared to whole carrots because the juicing process removes much of the fibrous pulp.
What to keep in mind
Carrot juice is neither a remedy nor a “detox” product: it is a food that provides certain interesting nutrients, to be integrated into a globally varied diet rather than considered in isolation as a miracle solution. It also naturally contains sugar (in the form of fructose and glucose), which invites you to consume reasonable amounts rather than in very large quantities daily.
Excessive and repeated consumption of beta-carotene can also cause a temporary orange color of the skin (carotenodermia), a harmless phenomenon that disappears by reducing intakes.
Our tips
►Combine it with a fat source
Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble vitamin: its absorption is better in the presence of a small amount of fat, for example a walnut or a spoonful of oil in a carrot-based smoothie.
►Do not always substitute it for the whole carrot
The whole carrot provides fiber that the juice no longer contains. Alternating between the two allows you to benefit from the benefits specific to each form of consumption.
►Consume it quickly once prepared
Like other fresh fruit and vegetable juices, homemade carrot juice gradually loses its vitamins in the air and in the light. It is best to drink it within a few hours after preparation.
Carrot juice is a good natural source of beta-carotene and vitamin A, to be appreciated as an interesting complement to a varied diet, without attributing to it virtues that it does not have.
You can also read:How long does fresh orange juice keepandPasteurized or unpasteurized juice, which one poses a risk.
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