Since carrots contain a moderate amount of carbs—about 6 grams per ½-cup serving—they are allowed only in small quantities on a low-carb high-fat keto diet. Cooking methods also don’t significantly affect their carb content, so they can be eaten both raw and cooked.
Learn about how many carbs are in carrots, how they can fit into the keto diet, and what vegetables to avoid on keto.
How many carbs are in carrots?
Carrots are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with a very small amount of fat and protein. The water content in carrots ranges from 86%-95%, and the edible portion is made up of about 10% of carbs.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 25 |
| Carbohydrates | 6 grams |
| Fiber | 2 grams |
| Sugar | 3 grams |
| Protein | 0.5 grams |
| Fats | 0 |
| Vitamin A | 509 µg |
| Vitamin K | 8 µg |
One serving (½ cup) of carrots can provide up to:
What are the health benefits of carrots?
Carrots are versatile root vegetables that are packed with nutrients and lower in sugar and carbs that other tuber vegetables such as potatoes.
Carrots are often ranked low on the glycemic index (GI), ranging from 16-60. Consuming foods with a low GI index is associated with numerous health benefits, especially for people with diabetes:
- Good for eye health
- Boosts immunity
- Prevents constipation
- Helps regulate blood sugar
- Helps strengthen bones
- Improves dental health
- Promotes weight loss
- Prevents cognitive decline
- Improves gut health
- Lowers the risk of heart disease
- Lowers the risk of cancer
Always wash carrots thoroughly in water and scrub off any dirt before preparing them to eat raw or cooked. They can be consumed in various ways, ranging from raw sticks dipped in hummus or steaming, boiling, or roasting them as a side dish. They work well in savory dishes, such as beef stew, chicken pot pie, or stir-fry. Pureed carrots make excellent baby food.
What can you eat on a keto diet?
The ketogenic or keto diet is a low-carb (5%-10%), moderate-protein (10%-20%), and high-fat (70%-80%) diet plan that focuses on restricting carbs so that your body burns fat for energy instead of stored carbs.
Carrots can be keto-friendly, but they need to be eaten in moderation since they are higher in carbs than leafy greens and other vegetables.
What are alternatives to carrots?
Some less starchy alternatives to carrots that you can enjoy raw or cooked on a keto diet include:
- Celery: 2 grams of net carbs per cup
- Broccoli: 3 grams of net carbs per cup
- Cauliflower: 3 grams of net carbs per cup
What vegetables to avoid on a keto diet
Based on their net carbs per 100-gram serving, here are some of the vegetables to avoid on a keto diet:
- Rutabaga (6 grams)
- Artichoke (6 grams)
- Celeriac: (6 grams)
- Onion (8 grams)
- Peas (9 grams)
- Beetroot (7 grams)
- Butternut squash (10 grams)
- Parsnip (13 grams)
- Potato (15 grams)
- Corn (16 grams)
- Sweet potato (17 grams)
- Yam (24 grams)
- Cassava (36 grams)
SLIDESHOW
Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think See SlideshowNelson A. Carrots. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/benefits-carrots
Expert Bulletin. Carrots 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. https://www.expertbulletin.com/carrots-101-nutrition-facts-and-health-benefits/
WebMD. What’s a Ketogenic Diet? https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-ketogenic-diet
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Are Carrots Healthy for Babies?
Carrots are healthy for everyone, including babies. They are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene gets converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is good for the eye, skin, and immune system. Carrots, being rich in fiber, helps prevent the baby from getting constipated. They also contain vitamin K, which helps in blood clotting.
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The recommended way to roast vegetables is to set the temperature anywhere between 350 and 500°F. However, 400°F is usually ideal for roasting vegetables.
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