[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
Carrot is a very popular, inexpensive and tasty vegetable. It can be consumed in various forms and is always extremely attractive and appreciated. It also has many nutritional and vitamin properties. Carrot is good for health and beauty. Let’s see together the nutritional value and the number of calories contained in carrots.
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Carrot calories: 40 kcal per 100 g
Carrot is a low-calorie food. A 100 g portion of carrot provides around 40 kcal, according to Apritel, the agency for Research and Information in Fruits and Vegetables.
Young carrots are the least caloric. They contain more water and less sugar. However, most baby carrots, sold in bags as a ready-made snack, are usually pieces of old carrots, cut and polished to look like small specimens. Before packaging, they are sometimes treated with a chlorine solution, which inactivates bacteria. This treatment reduces their nutritional value.
Carrot: Carbohydrate, protein and lipid content
In carrots, up to 78% of the energy is provided by carbohydrates. 14% comes from proteins and 7% comes from fats.
Carrot nutritional values table
| Nutrients | carrot: content per 100 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 9.58g |
| -with sugar | 4.74g |
| -of which starch | 1.43g |
| -including dietary fiber | 2.8g |
| Proteins | 0.93g |
| Lipids | 0.24g |
| -including cholesterol | 0mg |
| -of which saturates | 0.032g |
| Potassium | 320 mg |
| Sodium | 69 mg |
| Water | 88.3g |
| Alcohol | 0g |
How much does the average carrot weigh?
A carrot weighs 125 g on average, according to Apritel.
What are the vitamin contributions of carrots?
Carrot provides between 4% and 7% of the necessary amount of vitamins B1, B2, B5, E and C, as well as niacin and folate. It also provides more than 10 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and vitamin B6. 100 grams of carrot covers more than 77 percent of the daily vitamin A requirement. Carrots are also a source of molybdenum, a rare trace element in the diet.
In the human body, certain types of carotene, such as alpha and beta carotene, are converted to vitamin A or retinol. They are therefore called provitamin A. Carrots are one of the most concentrated sources of carotenes. Carrots contain the highest amount of beta-carotene. Their content is sometimes even higher than 1000 mg in 100 g of carrot. Beta-carotene is linked to pectins, which belong to the water-soluble fiber fraction.
Carrots also provide other antioxidants like vitamins C and E, as well as flavonoids including kaempferol, quercetna and luteolin. Carrots also provide phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid.
What are the mineral contributions of carrots?
Carrots contain pro-health compounds such as antioxidants and fiber, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. A 100g serving provides 3-7% of the recommended daily dose of these individual ingredients.
Does carrot contain food additives?
No, carrots do not contain any food additives.
Does carrot make you gain weight?
As a light vegetable, rich in water and fiber, carrots help increase satiety to the point that it leads to a reduction in calorie intake for subsequent meals. Thus, it promotes weight loss.
So why is eating carrots banned in many diets? This is linked to the myth that arose from it in the early 1980s, when the first tables with the glycemic index values of various products were published. Carrots were then wrongly assigned a glycemic index of 92, when in fact this value is more than 5 times lower.
Although the error was corrected in subsequent years, it never received as much attention as the early studies, and the false belief was consolidated in the public consciousness.
What are the beneficial health properties of carrots?
Regular consumption of carrots leads to an increase in the level of antioxidants in blood plasma. Antioxidants are the basic way to protect the body against oxidative stress. These compounds protect the body from degenerative changes caused by free radicals. Epidemiological studies have also confirmed a link between high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease.
As benefits, the carrot:
- supports the nervous system;
- has a positive effect on memory and concentration;
- strengthens hair and nails;
- nourishes the skin;
- reduces the risk of cancer;
- strengthens eyesight;
- reduces symptoms of aging;
- improves immunity;
- cleanses and detoxifies the body;
- supports the circulatory system;
- lowers cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
Carrot juice is excellent for benefiting from the benefits of this vegetable. However, ready-made carrot juices may contain bacteria that are dangerous for pregnant women, young children and the elderly. They should not be consumed by them. Instead, you should favor homemade juices.
The bright orange color of carrots is provided by carotenoids. Carotenoids absorb ultraviolet light. As they accumulate in the skin and eyes, they protect them from the harmful effects of UV rays. In addition, they protect the liver against the effects of toxic compounds.