You don’t need to be Bugs Bunny to understand the carrot juice hype. Even though you’re drinking a cup of vegetables, carrot juice is surprisingly refreshing, especially when it’s served super cold.
It’s also healthy AF. Low in sugar and packed with vitamin C, carrot juice has lots of superfood goodness and tastes a bit sweeter than its green juice counterparts.
Need a little more convincing before you’re ready to lug out your juicer? Check out all the biggest carrot juice benefits.
The lowdown on carrot juice nutrition
Just what’s in an 8-ounce cup of carrot juice? Here’s the breakdown, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- 20.1 milligrams of vitamin C
- 2,260 micrograms of vitamin A
- 9.44 micrograms of folate
- 786 micrograms of lutein and zeaxanthin
- 1.89 grams of dietary fiber
- 9.23 grams of sugar
- 94 calories
Let’s be real: Carrot juice isn’t a magical elixir. Nothing is, despite what fad diets try to sell you. (Stop trying to make the tuna diet happen. It’s not going to happen.) But adding carrot juice to your diet has lots of perks to help keep your body healthy.
Vroom, vroom! Carrot juice can really get your metabolism running, especially when you swap it for the likes of orange juice or soda.
Since it’s also pretty dang filling, it can be helpful for those looking to sip on something sweet while maintaining a healthy weight. It also boosts the secretion of bile (a bodily fluid that breaks down fat), which can help speed up your metabolism.
OK, the rumors are true: Carrot juice helps improve eyesight. Carrots are rich in beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that’s a powerful antioxidant.
Vitamin A helps strengthen the surface of the eye, which promotes healthy vision. Carrots also have lutein, an antioxidant that shields the eye from harmful light and has a number of eye-boosting benefits.
A 2013 study found that many of the nutrients in carrots can help combat eye disorders like macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Cancer develops when abnormal cells emerge and multiply. Thankfully, carrots are rich in antioxidants that can help prevent this cell damage before it begins.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, munching on fruits and non-starchy vegetables like carrots may decrease the risk of developing mouth, esophagus, lung, stomach, and other cancers.
A 2018 study also found that carrot consumption was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, and a 2020 study found a similar correlation between carrot intake and the risk of colorectal cancer.
Carrot juice contains calcium, folate, and magnesium and is rich in potassium and vitamin A — all things a growing baby wants.
Calcium helps the babe build strong bones and cartilage. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding need at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day.
Folate lowers the risk of fetal development issues. Vitamins A and C also work as antioxidants to protect baby and parent-to-be from free radicals, reducing the risk of infections.
What flu? Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich carrots help strengthen your immune system so your body can fight infections. An 8-ounce cup a day might give your immune system a boost to help keep the doctor away.
Shout-out to carrots for being the tiny orange superheroes we need.
Chock-full of potassium, carrot juice is a go-to beverage for a healthy heart. If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure without medication, you may want to consider adding some of this orange goodness to your diet.
Always talk to your doc before stopping prescription medication.
Are you glowing, or is it just carrot juice? The vitamin C in carrot juice is known to help heal and rejuvenate skin.
With a little carrot juice on your side, wounds might heal more quickly and the appearance of skin conditions like rashes and psoriasis might improve. The beta carotene in carrots also fights skin inflammation.
Cheers to that!
Brain feeling foggy? Carrot juice is here for you. Research suggests the beta carotene in carrot juice may boost brain function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Beta carotene may also help combat brain cell damage. In one 2014 study, people who had been exposed to lead took beta carotene once a day for 12 weeks. Afterward, the treatment group had less oxidative stress, which is linked to brain damage.
Even a nutritious vegetable can become dangerous if consumed in excess. And since carrot juice has almost no fiber, it can cause problems with your colon.
Also, it’s true: Because of the beta carotene, you really can turn orange if you eat too many carrots.
Remember to eat a well-rounded diet with plenty of fiber, protein, and whole (not just juiced) fruits and vegetables.
Carrot juice is a great way to fit in one of your daily 2 to 3 cups of veggies. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it’s a tasty, satisfying drink with lots of health benefits.
Carrots are healthy any way you slice them: cooked, juiced, or raw. Eating them raw packs a larger fiber punch, but if you’re having trouble eating enough fruits and veggies throughout the day, adding some juice can help you get all the nutrients you need.
So, sip on a cup of the orange stuff for an efficient way to get the nutrients needed for your healthiest brain, body and eyes.
