Peeling a carrot does not remove the majority of vitamins, according to the Tufts University Nutrition Letter. The carrot skin contains concentrated vitamin C and niacin but just under the peel, the next layer, the phloem, also has these vitamins, along with vitamin A.
"There is no need to peel carrots before eating—many people enjoy eating them with the skin on," says Alan Hilowitz, former communications director at Bolthouse Farms. "However, since carrots are grown in the ground, washing/scrubbing is important if you do choose not to peel," he adds.
Tasters unanimously preferred the peel-free carrots in the glazed and roasted samples. In both cases, the skins on the unpeeled carrots became wrinkled, tough, and gritty. Their flavor was “again earthier, but not in a good way” and they weren't particularly appealing looking.
Carrots provide more antioxidants when boiled or steamed than when eaten raw, according to a January 2008 report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. In fact, researchers found that boiling carrots until tender increased the concentration of carotenoids by 14 percent.
One medium carrot provides around 4% of a person's daily requirement of potassium. Eating vegetables high in fiber, such as carrots, may also lower a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease and reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol.
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
Some people are hypersensitive to carrots and some common side effects among such people are skin rashes, diarrhea, anaphylactic reactions, hives, and swelling. Such allergies are caused due to the allergen present in carrot pollen.
Carrots are somewhat higher in natural sugars than many vegetables. This has led some weight loss plans to recommend consuming the veggie in limited quantities.
The main differences between Carrot and Broccoli
Carrot has more Vitamin A RAE, however Broccoli has more Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin B5, and Iron. Daily need coverage for Vitamin C from Broccoli is 93% higher. Broccoli has 27 times less Vitamin A RAE than Carrot.
Thanks to the number of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants packed into each carrot, many experts have elevated this humble veggie to “superfood” status. Here are some fun carrot facts to chew on.
“Overall, while removing the peel reduces some phytonutrients and small amounts of the vitamins and minerals in carrots, there is plenty of nutritional value left behind.
As much as people love eating raw carrots with dip, you're better off cooking them for nutrients. “The cooking process releases more beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that gets converted to vitamin A in your body, which is beneficial to your eyes and immune system,” Allidina says.
Leaving the skin on carrots can give them a more rustic appearance, so if you're chopping carrots to serve in a mixed green salad or a hearty soup or stew, you might like the more casual look of unpeeled carrots. However, if you are making a stock with carrots or juicing them, there is no reason to peel them.
“You would need to be eating about 20 to 50 milligrams of beta-carotenes per day for a few weeks to raise your levels enough to see skin discoloration,” says Dr. Piliang. “One medium carrot has about 4 milligrams of beta-carotene in it. So if you're eating 10 carrots a day for a few weeks you could develop it.”
Eating how many carrots a day is too much? One carrot, on average, has about four mg of beta-carotene in it. Eating about 10 carrots every day for a couple of weeks may cause carotenemia. This occurs due to the deposition of beta-carotene in the skin.
Carrots make great face masks because they have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also packed with vitamin A and C, which help fight free radicals and protect the skin from sun damage. Carrot juice is a rich source of vitamins A and C and is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.
Carrots have significantly more Vitamins A, E and K than cucumber. Carrots are also a good source of Vitamin C, niacin, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Carrots even contain Vitamin K, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, and iron.
According to a Cleveland Clinic article, dermatologist Melissa Piliang says that regularly eating between 20 to 50 milligrams of beta-carotene per day for several weeks could be enough to turn you orange. This is equivalent to between three and ten carrots a day.
“Carrots are considered a nonstarchy vegetable, along with options such as broccoli and lettuce,” Ficek says. “These foods are safe for people with diabetes to eat at each meal without worry that glucose levels will spike.”
The surprising fact is eating too many carrots, or other foods high in beta-carotene, can cause a yellowish discoloration of the skin, according to the Dermatology Clinic at UAMS. This discoloration, a condition called carotenemia, is most noticeable on the palms and soles.
Starchy vegetables—like beets, carrots, and jicama—contain higher amounts of carbs, and because of this, can raise blood sugar much faster than non-starchy veggies.
They're rich in beta-carotene, a compound your body changes into vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes healthy. And beta-carotene helps protect your eyes from the sun and lowers your chances of cataracts and other eye problems. Yellow carrots have lutein, which is also good for your eyes.
Worst Veggie: Starchy Vegetables
Corn, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, and yams are starchy vegetables. However, not all starch vegetables offer the same nutritional benefits.