We all have heard since childhood that carrots are good for the eyes. However, are these claims scientifically backed? No doubt, carrots are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are vital to maintaining the health of your eyes and skin.
But, are carrots good for your eyes?
The association between carrots and healthy eyes is based on a myth. But, this doesn’t mean carrots aren’t beneficial for eye health. Indeed, carrots are superb for vision and eye health. The beta carotene in this root vegetable is converted into vitamin A which is essential for eye health. Besides improving eyesight, it reduces the risk of many eye diseases.
Let’s dig into the details of the carrot eye health benefits!
Table of Content
Carrots Nutrient Profile
Carrots are incredibly beneficial for health, thanks to their high and significant nutritional content. While they are available in a variety of colors, all colored carrots are chock full of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins K, B, and C are particularly abundant in this vegetable. Furthermore, it provides several other nutrients to the body, including biotin, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, and potassium.
Below you can find the carrot nutrients profile (100g).
| Name | Amount |
| Water | 88.3 g |
| Total Carbohydrate | 9.6g |
| Calories | 41 |
| Total fat | 0.24 g |
| Beta Carotene | 4,142 mg |
| Vitamin C | 5.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.138 mg |
| Vitamin K | 13 MCg |
| Vitamin E | 0.66 mg |
| Sugar | 4.7 |
| Protein | 0.93 g |
| Calcium | 33 mg |
| Iron | 0.3 mg |
| Potassium | 320 mg |
US Department of Agriculture (agricultural research services)
Are Carrots Good For Your Eyes?
It is believed that eating carrots or drinking its juice helps vision and improves night vision. Indeed, this is true, but it was marketed as a myth in the past.
In World War II, Royal British pilots used radar to target enemy planes. The pilots’ visual accuracy was attributed to eating carrots in order to hide this technology from the public.
Although this was a propaganda campaign, some people still believe that carrots increase eyesight.
However, carrots contain some essential nutrients, such as beta carotene, that are actually beneficial to eye health and protect against diseases and risks.
Beta carotene in rabbit food is an important nutrient that breaks down into vitamin A. Basically, this is the element from the carrot that helps the eyes. Eating carrots helps people with night blindness or vitamin A deficiency.
Nevertheless, most Americans get enough beta-carotene from their diet and do not need to eat carrots to improve their vision. It wouldn’t do much good to eat carrots when your diet already contains enough beta-carotene, as excess vitamin A can cause toxicity in the body.
However, in developing countries, between 250,000 and 500,000 children suffer from eye problems every year due to vitamin A deficiency. It is possible that carrots can alleviate these issues.
Carrots Eye Health Benefits
Lutein and beta carotene make carrots a surprising diet for eye health. Both are effective antioxidants that help keep the eye healthy. Lutein protects eyes from age-related degeneration. Beta carotene helps to make more rhodopsin that improves night vision.
Following are the few notable eye health benefits obtained from eating carrots or drinking carrot juice daily:
- Beta carotene in carrots can improve the functioning and vision of the eye.
- In addition to beta carotene, it contains significant amounts of other nutrients. Among them are zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and E. All of these nutrients support good eye health as we age. Macular degeneration, which can cause blindness, can be slowed down with these supplements, and cataracts may also be prevented.
- In some people with a vitamin A deficiency, corneas may disappear. Taking carrots may help to prevent corneal degeneration.
- It helps to prevent eye dryness.
- Drinking carrot juice or eating carrots gradually improves eyesight.
- It improves night blindness.
- Carrots’ nutrients help build up the eye’s protective layer against bacterial or virus attacks.
- Moreover, it slows down the progression of Stargardt’s disease.
How To Make Carrot Juice For Eyes?
Whether you eat or drink carrots, both are helpful for the eyes. However, juicing is an easier way to consume carrots. Moreover, carrot juicing ensures a concentrated blend of nutrients. Here is the easy, delicious and effective carrot juice method to improve your eyesight and eye health.
What Do You Need?
All the things you need to make carrot juice are readily available in the kitchen.
- Juicer machine
- 6-7 medium-size carrots
- 1 orange (optional – for additional flavor)
How To Make it?
- Wash the carrot thoroughly.
- Juice the carrots and oranges.
- You can add ice cubes, black pepper, and salt for more flavor and chill.
- And that’s it! Enjoy your easy, yummy, and nutritious carrot juice.
Other Health Benefits of Carrot
Carrots are versatile root vegetables. In addition to promoting eye health, carrots have numerous health benefits. Listed below are a few health benefits associated with eating or juicing carrots.
- As I mentioned earlier, carrots contain a significant amount of carotene. Notably, it has 80% beta carotene that promotes eyes and skin health.
- This vegetable has a high dietary fiber content.
- The consumption of carrots has a balancing effect on cholesterol levels. Carrots are thus heart-healthy.
- Moreover, carrots’ low caloric content and high dietary fiber help dieters achieve their weight loss goals. However, if you’re following very low-carb diet plans, you want to avoid it.
- Also, carrots have a prebiotic effect on the gut. It reduces the risk of gastritis, acid reflux, and other stomach ailments. It supports the digestion process.
- Carrots being rich in fiber ease constipation.
- More importantly, falcarinol, carotenoids, and chlorogenic acid in carrots lessen the risk of cancer.
- Vitamin C and iron in carrots boost your immunity, thus preventing the risks of infection.
- Vitamin A, beta carotene, and fiber in carrots help maintain the blood sugar level naturally.
- Apart from these, vitamin K and calcium in carrots promote bone health.
Risks of Carrots on Eyes
Although beta carotene and other vitamins help eyesight and other eye risks; but, excess beta carotene or vitamin A in the body may cause adverse effects on eyes and health.
It may weaken the eye tissues. Apparently, it manifests as yellow-orange pigments on the skin. Although it is usually normal, in severe cases, the buildup of excess vitamin A up to a toxin level may lead to vision problems.
Progressive damage to the eye leads to partial or complete vision loss.
Other Methods to Promote Eye Health
You can improve your eye health with a healthy diet and lifestyle habits. Nowadays, our high reliance on mobile phones affects our eyes greatly. Despite the eye protection on mobile phones, mobile or laptop screens still cause eye strain. Check out these helpful methods for keeping your eyes in good shape!
- Besides carrots, take another source of vitamins A, C, omega 3, minerals, and antioxidants that prevent macular degeneration and promote eye health.
- You should eat leafy green vegetables to get zeaxanthin and lutein. They can also be taken as supplements.
- You should quit smoking today for your eyes! Smoking increases the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to the optic nerve. By quitting smoking, your eyes will begin to heal.
- Too much sunlight may negatively impact your eyes, therefore choose the right shades for your eyes.
- Wear eye protection if required, such as during sports or when working with airborne materials, to prevent an eye injury.
- Don’t stare at the screen of your laptop, mobile, or computer for too long.
FAQs
Are cooked carrots good for your eyes?
Carrots are naturally high in beta carotene, which is beneficial for eye health. Carrots have 80% beta carotene in them. If you cook, puree, or juice it, it still contains a good amount of beta carotene that will be helpful for your eyes and vision. Rather than eating only raw carrots, you should also take them in cooked, puree, salad, or juice form.
Do carrots help your eyesight in the dark?
Although it was a propaganda campaign by the royal aircraft, carrots can improve your vision in the dark. Beta carotene in the carrots is degraded rapidly in vitamin A which accelerates the rhodopsin formation that promotes vision. Normal rhodopsin helps you to see clearly at night. Therefore, indirectly, carrots help night blindness.
Are raw carrots good for your eyes?
Indeed, yes! Raw carrots are a good source of beta carotene, zeaxanthin, vitamin A, K, C, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids, and many more. In addition to maintaining eyesight, these nutrients also help keep them healthy.
Final Thoughts
You may still wonder “Are carrots good for your eyes?” Although the concept is based on a myth, carrots are certainly good for eye health. Indeed, essential antioxidants in carrots promote eye health and vision. Besides eyes, it helps skin, heart, gut, and overall health.
Moreover, if you want to live a healthy life, then you should take care of your life with a balanced life and diet. So, are you planning to start your rabbit diet yet?
