This Is What Happens When You Eat Too Many Carrots

Carrots are a healthy and nutritious vegetable packed full of vitamins and minerals, but eating too many can cause some strange and unpleasant side effects. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, a type of carotenoid that gives carrots their orange hue and converts to vitamin A in your body (via Livestrong). However, consuming large amounts of carrots can lead to an excess of carotene in your blood, which can cause carotenemia. Carotenemia is a condition which causes a yellow or orange pigmentation of the skin. It is harmless and mostly affects the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet.

Eating too many carrots can also cause a change in your bowel movements. Carrots are high in fiber, which can disrupt your gastrointestinal tract if consumed in large quantities. This can lead to constipation, especially if you don't drink enough water to help make your stools easier to pass. In order to experience these side effects, however, you would need to eat half a cup of raw, chopped carrots every day.

While consuming copious amounts of carrots may affect your bowels and discolor your skin, eating a moderate amount can greatly benefit your overall health. Carrots are a versatile vegetable that have been cultivated and harvested for thousands of years (via Medical News Today). They are a great source of antioxidants and Vitamin A and have been linked to a number of health benefits. First and foremost, eating carrots can help improve and maintain your vision. This is because carrots are rich in Vitamin A and lutein. Vitamin A can support healthy eyes and reduce the risk of night blindness. Lutein, on the other hand, can help prevent the development of macular degeneration.

Eating carrots on a regular basis may also reduce your risk of certain types of cancer. As an antioxidant, vitamin A can help protect your cells from free radicals and fight off chronic illnesses and disease, including cancer. Additionally, carrots contain small quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin K, which can all contribute to bone health. Eating a moderate amount of carrots on a daily basis may even help delay or prevent the onset of osteoporosis.