Carrot

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Cancer risk³

  People who ate more carrots tended to have less cancer, though scientists do not yet know whether carrots cause this.

• Benefit

  Prostate cancer risk⁴

  Men who ate more carrots seemed less likely to get prostate cancer, but scientists say more studies are needed.

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and digestion⁷

  Eating raw carrot daily lowered cholesterol and increased fat and bile acid leaving the body.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Heart and blood sugar health⁸

  Black carrot is rich in antioxidants, and studies suggest it may help lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

• Open question

  Cancer treatment potential⁹

  Carrot compounds are being studied for fighting cancer, but scientists do not yet know whether they work in people.

• Benefit

  Future health benefits¹⁰

  Carrots contain falcarinol, which early research suggests may help fight cancer, fungi, and bacteria, though scientists are still studying it.

Single cases of misuse or overdose

One person or one incident, such as an accidental overdose or a mistake in a kitchen or factory. They are real, but a single case does not show what happens at normal amounts, so the signal does not count them.

• Cravings and withdrawal⁵

  A woman craved carrots and felt withdrawal when she stopped, and scientists do not yet know whether carrot eating is truly addictive.

• Blood oxygen in infants⁶

  In one infant, eating carrot soup was reported with methemoglobinemia.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.