10 Amazing Benefits Of Carrot And Its Juices During Pregnancy

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Carrots are a rich source of beta-carotene (antioxidantiXCompounds that prevent or delay cellular damage caused by free radicals ), vitamins, and calcium (1). In addition, consuming carrot juice during pregnancy can protect you and your baby from various illnesses by boosting your immunity (2).

During pregnancy, you may not be able to enjoy some beverages that you used to. So carrots can provide you with energy and freshness while quenching your thirst. In addition, this nutrient-rich vegetable provides essential prenatal nutrition that can help you through the journey of a healthy pregnancy and aid in the overall development of the fetus (3).

This post will tell you everything you need to know about carrots and their benefits for pregnant women, including their side effects.

In This Article

Benefits Of Carrot Juice During Pregnancy

Carrot is known to be one of the most versatile of all vegetables because of its nutritive value, which is highly suitable to be taken as juice as well. While this nutrient-rich juice surely tastes good, its cleansing effect in your body offers plenty of health benefits in pregnancy as well.

Here is the list of benefits of eating carrot during pregnancy:

  1. Carrots help cleanse your liver and prevent liver diseases such as jaundice (4).
  2. Carrot helps in boosting your immunity (2).

    Carrots during pregnancy help in boosting your immunity.

    Image: Shutterstock

  3. Carrots help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce risks of diabetes (5).
  4. They aid in the development of the baby’s heart and eyes (6).
  5. These are rich in vitamin A vitamin C and fiber, which are needed in high amounts in pregnancy (1).
  6. Carrot juice is rich in beta-carotene, which acts as an antioxidant and protects you against free radicalsiXA byproduct of cell metabolism that is highly unstable and can cause cell damage (1).
  7. Vitamin A in carrot juices helps fight against infections. Vitamin A moreover adds quality to your breast milk. Mothers, who are breastfeeding, must make it a point to add nutrient-packed carrots to their daily diet.
  8. The vitamin A in carrots helps fight against infections. Moreover, vitamin A improves the quality of your breast milk. Hence, breastfeeding mothers should add nutrient-packed carrots to their daily diet (1) (7).
  9. PhytochemicalsiXChemicals produced by plants to protect themselves from bacteria, fungi, and viruses contained in juices promote proper functioning of the body. These are considered important vitamins that must be added in your daily pregnancy diet (8).
  10. Drinking carrot juice or soup in the last few months of pregnancy is known to reduce the chances of jaundice in your baby.
protip_icon Quick fact
About 100g of carrots have enough vitamin A to fulfill the daily requirement of 770mcg in pregnant women. However, vitamin A intake should not be excessive during pregnancy (1) (16).
Carrot juice during pregnancy reduces jaundice in your baby.

Image: Shutterstock

The following chart illustrates a comparative analysis of the antioxidant capacity of carrot and beetroot juice. According to the graph, 100 ml of fresh beetroot juice contains higher levels of ascorbic acid and total phenols than carrot juice, which may explain its superior total antioxidant activity. However, carrot juice contains abundant carotenoids, which are scarce in beetroot juice.

Graph1:Vital bioactive compounds in carrot and beetroot juice

Source: Physicochemical and Bioactive Compounds in Carrot and Beetroot Juice; Journal of Dairying, Foods & Home Sciences

Graph2:Vital bioactive compounds in carrot and beetroot juice

Source: Physicochemical and Bioactive Compounds in Carrot and Beetroot Juice; Journal of Dairying, Foods & Home Sciences

Graph 3:Vital bioactive compounds in carrot and beetroot juice

Source: Physicochemical and Bioactive Compounds in Carrot and Beetroot Juice; Journal of Dairying, Foods & Home Sciences

Graph 4:Vital bioactive compounds in carrot and beetroot juice

Source: Physicochemical and Bioactive Compounds in Carrot and Beetroot Juice; Journal of Dairying, Foods & Home Sciences

Interesting Consumption Tips

Carrots are mild and can be be mixed with other ingredients.

Image: Shutterstock

Carrots are delicious. Keeping in mind some simple tips will ensure all vital nutrients are retained. Here is what you should know:

  • Carrots that are less than 6 inches are sweet. Look for the shorter variants if you prefer the sweet taste; otherwise, opt for the longer ones.
  • The vital nutrients remain concentrated under the skin, so try to take it with the skin. You can use a hard brush to clean it properly.
  • Carrots are mild root vegetables that can easily be mixed with other ingredients.

protip_icon Quick tip
Carrots with bright green, leafy tops are fresh and sweet. However, remove the leafy tops before wrapping carrots in perforated plastic and storing them to preserve their moisture.

Tips For Storing And Preparing Carrots For Nutrient Retention

Carrots are seasonal; however, with proper preparation and storage, you can reap their nutritional benefits all year long. Try these carrot storing and preparing tips (9).

  • Remove the green tops of carrots to keep them fresh for several days.
  • Choose undamaged and unpeeled carrots and keep them in the refrigerator at 0-4 degrees Celsius.
  • Slice carrots into small pieces, soak them in water, and store them in the refrigerator for a few days (10).
  • Keep unwashed carrots in a sealed container in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator with some moisture for a few weeks.
  • For large quantities of freshly harvested carrots, place them in a bucket of damp sand and store them in a cool, dry place for three to four months.
  • For longer storage, make fresh carrot juice and pour it into sterilized bottles, followed by pasteurization for a few minutes.
    You can also ferment carrots to store them for several months.

Risks Of Carrots Or Carrot Juices In Pregnancy

Excess carotene may turn your skin yellow.

Image: Shutterstock

While carrots in raw form or juice are nutritious no doubt, excessive consumption can lead to certain complications in pregnancy as well. Here is why you should be careful:

  • Carrots contain carotene, which is a provitamin A that gets converted in your body only when the need arises (11).
  • It is not possible for you to get high amounts of vitamin A by taking carotene, as your body regulates the conversion of carotene to vitamin A.
  • Too much indigestion of carotene leads to carotenemia, which eventually turns the skin yellow (12).
  • B-carotene is also known to cause cancer.

Consult your doctor about the amount of daily consumption of carrot or carrot juice during pregnancy. They will help you decide if carrots are safe for your pregnancy. Put to rest all your worries and enjoy a healthy diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I eat raw carrots while pregnant?

Yes, raw carrots are an essential source of vitamin A and are recommended during pregnancy. Ensure you thoroughly wash the carrots before consuming them (13).

2. How many carrots are safe to eat while pregnant?

You may have one cup of raw or cooked carrots daily during pregnancy and keep alternating between different recommended vegetables of the same portion size three times a day (14).

3. Can eating carrots during pregnancy help improve my baby’s eyesight?

There is no evidence that carrots improve eyesight. However, they may help maintain a healthy vision (15).

Drinking carrot juice during pregnancy may be a good practice because these vegetables are loaded with nutrients such as vitamins and beta-carotene. These nutrients help boost your immunity, cleanse your liver, aid better fetal development, and in several other ways. Since carrots have a mild taste, you can also mix them with other ingredients to create different recipes or add them to your green smoothies for a hint of color. However, ensure not to consume carrot juice in excess as it may lead to carotene indigestion that can turn your skin yellow. So, if you plan to introduce carrot juice during pregnancy, consult your doctor for the right amount suitable for consumption.

Infographic: Benefits Of Carrot Juice During Pregnancy

Carrot is one of the many nutritious vegetables that can support your health and facilitate the baby’s growth and development. While you can consume carrots raw or cooked, their juice is also known to confer several health benefits. Read the infographic below to learn how carrot juice can benefit moms-to-be and their unborn babies.

beneficial nutrients of carrot juice for moms to be (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Drinking carrot juice while pregnant improves immunity and promotes healthy fetal growth.
  • The consumption of carrots lowers blood sugar and guards against liver disorders.
  • Carrots are high in vitamins A and C and fiber, which is beneficial for pregnant women.
  • Vitamin A in carrots aids in the prevention of infections and enhances the quality of breast milk.
  • To ensure safety, consult a doctor about the quantity of carrots or carrot juice you should consume daily while pregnant.
carrot juice during pregnancy_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Carrots raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170393/nutrients
  2. Foods To Boost The Immune System
    https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/foods-boost-immune-system
  3. Nutrition During Pregnancy
    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/nutrition-during-pregnancy
  4. What Foods Cleanse Your Liver?
    https://www.fishertitus.org/healthy-living/healthy-living-blog/2018/what-foods-cleanse-your-liver/
  5. Could Carrots Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
    https://www.diabetes.org.uk/research/research-round-up/behind-the-headlines/could-carrots-help-prevent-type-2-diabetes
  6. Pregnant or Breastfeeding? Nutrients You Need
    https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/moms-nutrients.html
  7. Facts for Feeding
    https://rehydrate.org/breastfeed/facts-breastmilk.htm
  8. Apollinaire Tsopmo; (2018); Phytochemicals in Human Milk and Their Potential Antioxidative Protection
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836022/
  9. A-Z Food Storage Tips.
    https://greshamoregon.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2268
  10. Fruits and Vegetables: Keep Them Fresh to Keep You Healthy.
    https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/diabetes-eat-fruit-veggies.html
  11. The Nutrition Source
    https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-a/
  12. Can Eating Too Many Carrots Turn Your Skin Orange?
    https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-eating-too-many-carrots-turn-your-skin-orange/
  13. Nutrition During Pregnancy.
    https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy
  14. Eat right for you and baby too
    https://www.mobapbaby.org/Pregnancy-Guide/Ensuring-a-Healthy-Pregnancy/Nutrition/Eat-Right
  15. Old wive’s tales
    https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/Old-Wives-Tales
  16. Nutrition for you and your baby
    https://www.wm.edu/as/programs/healthy_beginnings/files/healthy_beginnings_originals/nutrition_booklet_updated
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