5 Health Benefits of Carrots, According to RDs
If you're anything like me, you've got a bag of carrots sitting in the crisper drawer right now, bought with the best of intentions but long-forgotten. It's time to dig out these vibrant and nutritious root vegetables, because they're one of the most powerful tools in your fridge to help you maintain optimal health. Less expensive and easier to come by than many so-called "superfoods," carrots offer a wide range of health benefits, last for weeks in the fridge, and are easy to include in meals and snacks for all ages.
While carrots are safe for pretty much everyone to eat, be warned that if you eat a ton, it's true that you might see some visible effects. "The high intake of beta carotene in carrots can turn the skin an orange-yellow color (a condition called "carotenemia")," says Charlotte Martin, M.S., RDN, author of The Plant Forward Solution. This is not dangerous to your health, however, and your skin will return to its normal color once you reduce the amount of beta carotene you're consuming.
Amy Shapiro, M.S., R.D., CDN, founder of Real Nutrition, recommends buying organic carrots whenever possible, as carrots have the ability to absorb high amounts of pesticides from soil. If you're buying non-organic, wash your carrots well.