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Carrots are having a moment. The kid-friendly veggie has these impressive health benefits
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Diet & Fitness
Carrots are having a moment. The kid-friendly veggie has these impressive health benefits
Even baby carrots come with a big dose of healthy vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. /TAP TO UNMUTE
Feb. 1, 2024, 9:49 PM UTC / Source: TODAY
By Sarah Jacoby
Carrots might just be the most versatile vegetable. And whether they’re raw or roasted, savory or sweet, you’ll get the same nutritional benefits from carrots.
“Carrots are budget-friendly, have a long shelf life, can be consumed raw or cooked, by themselves or mixed in a dish and are one of the most popular vegetables in America,” Debbie Petitpain, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com.
That makes them a sustainable and accessible vegetable for many people. And that’s good news because these colorful veggies are full of healthy nutrients. Yes, they’ve got a ton of beta-carotene (which the body turns into vitamin A), but carrots are also a plentiful source of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants — and that includes those adorable baby carrots.
Carrot nutrition facts
A cup of chopped raw carrots contains:
52 calories
1 gram protein
0.3 grams fat
12 grams carbohydrates
3.5 grams fiber
You’ll find similar nutrients in baby carrots and carrots of different colors. But different colored carrots contain additional compounds, which give them their color and some unique health benefits.
Carrot benefits
If you know anything about the nutritional benefits of carrots, it’s that they can help you get your daily amount of vitamin A, which is helpful for vision health, skin health and immune function, Petitpain says.
Vitamin A is made up of alpha- and beta-carotene, and carrots contain a huge amount of beta-carotene, registered dietitian Grace Derocha, tells TODAY.com. In just a half-cup serving of carrots, you’ll find nearly 9,700 IU of beta-carotene, “which is already way over 100% (of your recommended dietary allowance),” adds Dero
