Carrot Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Introduction

Carrot is a root vegetable, scientifically known as Daucus carota. It is of various colours, such as black, white, purple, yellow, and red, but it is mainly orange in colour. They were initially used for potential health benefits and gradually accepted as food. An old saying also mentions carrots as good for the eyes. It is widely utilised in different forms, such as cooked, dried, raw, or juice. Industrial processing of carrots is done mainly to produce carrot juice. It is also the most popular vegetable juice, only second to tomato. Various biologically active and nutritional substances in carrot juice play a vital role in a healthy diet^1,3.  

Nutritional Value of Carrot Juice

Industrially extracted carrot juice contains a variety of nutrients. The unclarified carrot juice is observed to have about 1.1 g of dietary fibre/100 ml³. 

Micronutrients and Vitamins

Percentage nutritional value of the recommended daily intake of industrial carrot juice per serving (200-250 ml)³ 

• Potassium: 18%
• Manganese: 14%
• Copper: 12%
• Magnesium: 9%
• Iron: 8%
• β-Carotene (precursor of Vitamin A): 400%
• Vitamin E: 17%
• Vitamin K: 10%
• Vitamins B3, B7, and B5: 7%

Macronutrients

Percentage nutritional value of fresh carrot juice

• Carbohydrate: 7%
• Fat, Dietary Fibre: 7%
• Protein: 1%

Properties of Carrot Juice

Carrot is a healthy vegetable and serve several benefits to humans. Due to its nutritional value and its beneficial properties, carrot juice has been reported to exhibit the following¹: 

• May be a potential antioxidant  
• May have anti-cancer potential  
• May have immunity-boosting potential  
• It may have anti-diabetic potential  
• It may potentially be cholesterol-lowering and heart-protective  
• May have blood pressure-lowering potential  
• May have liver protective potential  
• May potentially be kidney protective    
• May have wound healing benefits  
• May have antimicrobial potential    
• May have anti-inflammatory potential².  

Potential Uses of Carrot Juice

Carrots are an essential source of provitamin A (precursor of vitamin A). Numerous benefits of carrot juice are listed below².  

1. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for Cancer  

Dias, 2012a; Dias, 2012b⁴ demonstrated that carrot juice shows antioxidant activity that helps reduce free radicals in the body. A meta-analysis⁵ that was published in 2014 demonstrated that taking high amounts of carrots may be associated with lowering the risk of lung cancer by 21%. The bio-active compounds in carrot juice may have a potential negative effect on the formation of tumours. This may indicate that carrot juice may have the potential to decrease the risks of certain types of cancers. However, you must consult a doctor before including carrot juice in your diet for its benefit, as the available research is insufficient, and there is a need for further studies to establish the mentioned effects of carrot juice on human health. 

2. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for Vitamin A Deficiency  

Consuming carrot juice helps produce vitamin A in the body. Thus, carrot juice intake as a source of vitamin A is highly beneficial as it helps to overcome several health issues due to vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency may cause skin dryness and damage to nails and hair. Further, vitamin A deficiency can cause damage to light-sensitive cells of the eyes; this may result in loss of vision and other vision-related problems. Consumption of carrot juice may have beneficial effects on eyesight^2,4. You must consult a doctor before including any herb in your diet for its benefits, as they may be able to assess your condition and prescribe the dosage and form correctly. 

3. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for the Immune System  

Carrot juice contains various nutrients and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, which may help boost the immune system. Regular intake of carrot juice may provide several benefits to our body. An in vivo study⁶ conducted by Ekam et al., in 2006 stated the immunomodulatory effect of carrot juice on rats. An animal study¹² also stated that carrots possess the ability to bring changes in the immune system by increasing the white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet concentration. These WBCs and platelets are responsible for the immune response. Thus, this may indicate that carrot juice may have beneficial effects on the immune system. However, these studies are insufficient to validate the same response in humans and therefore, further extensive human studies are required to establish any effect of carrot juice on the human immune system. 

4. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for Diabetes  

According to a study⁷, low carotenoid content in the blood may cause an increase in the level of glucose and insulin in the blood. Consuming carrot juice rich in carotenoids may be helpful for a person with diabetes. Further, Chau et al., in 2004⁸, observed that carrot juice may be beneficial in managing the post-meal blood glucose levels. This is because dietary fibres in carrot juice may help to manage the glucose levels in the blood. However, further studies are needed to understand the potential and extent to which carrot juice may be beneficial for humans suffering from diabetes. 

5. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for the Heart  

Drinking carrot juice daily may have beneficial effects on the heart against plaque formation due to oxidative damage and accumulation of bad cholesterol. An animal study² suggests that carrot juice may be able to protect from a condition. In women, carrot juice may exhibit several benefits that reduce the risk of heart attacks. You must consult a doctor before including any herb in your diet for its benefits for heart, as any condition related to the heart is serious and may require proper diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will be able to assess your condition and prescribe the dosage and form correctly. 

6. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for the Liver  

Carrot juice is good for the liver due to its nutrients. Further, the studies² on carrot juice may indicate that bioactive compounds in carrots may have other benefits for the liver from damage against the toxic effects of environmental pollution. A study⁹ on animals showed that the presence of vitamin A in carrot juice may reduce the oxidative stress on liver tissues, and thus it may be beneficial for the liver. The studies on animals cannot provide the necessary evidence and state the extent to which carrot juice may impact the human liver. Therefore, it is necessary for the researchers to conduct further studies to validate this claim. 

7. Potential Uses of Carrot Juice for the Brain  

Carrot juice may have a positive impact on cognitive functions (mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving)¹⁰. This benefit may be due to the presence of carotenoids and thiamine (vitamin B1). These studies may be insufficient to establish the usage for human brain health. We may need further studies that can give evidence for these benefits on humans. 

8. Other Potential Uses of Carrot Juice  

Carrot juice may also have several other potential benefits, such as:  

• May help to manage weight¹ 
• It may have a positive effect on the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins and may help in the healthy growth of the body². 
• It may be helpful to regulate excessive bleeding by supporting clot formation⁴. 

Though there are studies that show the benefits of carrot juice in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent ofthe benefits of the herb on human health.   

How to Use Carrot Juice?

Carrot juice can be consumed as  

• Freshly extracted juice  
• Cloudy carrot juice (concentrated carrot juice produced from mature carrots) 
• Clarified industrial juice  
• Non-clarified industrial juice³ 

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Side Effects of Carrot Juice

There are no major reported side effects of carrot juice. However, even natural preparations such as fruits and vegetable juices can show side effects on an individual, as everyone’s body reacts differently to certain compounds. It is advisable to consume these herbs after consulting a qualified doctor. In case you feel any discomfort or any other uncomfortable symptoms from drinking carrot juice, you must consult your Ayurvedic doctor who prescribed it to you. They will be able to assess the situation and guide you regarding the course of action.  

Precautions to Take With Carrot Juice

Carrot juice is generally considered reasonably safe in recommended dosage, but based on the glycaemic index (an indicator of the effect of food on blood sugar) of carrots, it is recommended to eat carrots in moderation due to the high sugar content present in them². Moreover, you must follow general precautions and instructions given by your doctor while consuming carrot juice regularly, and you should never self-medicate even with natural fruits, vegetables and herbs. 

Interactions With Other Medicines

Any major adverse reaction of carrot juice with any other medicine has not been reported. However, the possibility of reaction with other medications cannot be denied entirely. So, you need to discuss your daily carrot juice intake and details of different medicines prescribed to you for use with your Ayurvedic physician. They will tailor their prescription to suit your health needs.   

Also Read: Carrot Beetroot Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Singh MN, Srivastava R, Yadav I. Study of different varietis of carrot and its benefits for human health: a review. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2021;10:1293-9. Available from: https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2021/vol10issue1/PartR/10-1-180-561.pdf  
2. Khomich LM, Perova IB, Eller KI. Carrot juice nutritional profile. Voprosy Pitaniia. 2020 Jan 24;89(1):86-95. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/32083829  
3. Shakeel A, Aslam HK, Shoaib M, Sikandar HA, Ramzan R. Effect of various hydrocolloids on cloud stability and nutrition of carrot juice. J. Glob. Innov. Agric. Soc. Sci. 2013;1(22-27). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad-Shoaib-73/publication/268278658
4. Silva Dias JC. Nutritional and health benefits of carrots and their seed extracts. Food Nutr Sci. 2014;5(22):2147–2156. doi: 10.4236/fns.2014.522227. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276499931_Nutritional_and_Health_Benefits_of_Carrots_and_Their_Seed_Extracts
5. Xu H, Jiang H, Yang W, Song F, Yan S, Wang C, Fu W, Li H, Lyu C, Gan Y, Lu Z. Is carrot consumption associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer? A meta-analysis of observational studies. Br J Nutr. 2019 Sep 14;122(5):488-498. doi: 10.1017/S0007114519001107. Erratum in: Br J Nutr. 2020 Apr 14;123(7):840. doi: 10.1017/S0007114520000343. PMID: 31552816. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31552816/
6. Ekam VS, Udosen EO, Chigbu AE. Comparative effect of carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted carotenoids on immune parameters in albino Wistar rats. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2006 Jun-Dec;21(1-2):1–4. doi: 10.4314/njps.v21i1-2.53930. PMID: 17242725. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6559845
7. Potter AS, Foroudi S, Stamatikos A, Patil BS, Deyhim F. Drinking carrot juice increases total antioxidant status and decreases lipid peroxidation in adults. Nutr J. 2011 Sep 24;10:96. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-96. PMID: 21943297; PMCID: PMC3192732. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3192732/
8. Chau, C.-F., Chen, C.-H., & Lee, M.-H. (2004). Comparison of the characteristics, functional properties, and in vitro hypoglycemic effects of various carrot insoluble fiber-rich fractions. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft & Technologie, 37(2), 155–160. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2003.08.001
9. Green AS, Fascetti AJ. Meeting the Vitamin A Requirement: The Efficacy and Importance of β-Carotene in Animal Species. ScientificWorldJournal. 2016;2016:7393620. doi: 10.1155/2016/7393620. Epub 2016 Oct 19. PMID: 27833936; PMCID: PMC5090096. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5090096/
10. Davinelli S, Ali S, Solfrizzi V, Scapagnini G, Corbi G. Carotenoids and Cognitive Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Intervention Trials. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Feb 2;10(2):223. doi: 10.3390/antiox10020223. PMID: 33540909; PMCID: PMC7913239. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7913239/
11. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A and Carotenoids: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; 2022 [cited 2025 May 14]. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/
12. Anjani G, Ayustaningwarno F, Eviana R. Critical review on the immunomodulatory activities of carrot’s β-carotene and other bioactive compounds. J Funct Foods. 2022;99:105303. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464622003735

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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