I get this question so often I had to address it.
Short answer:
Yes! Almost everyone can eat carrots. They are a very healthy, non-starchy vegetable.
Long answer:
Yes, carrots have some carbohydrates. But they also have fiber. And vitamins and minerals. And antioxidants. This makes them digest MUCH differently, than say, pure table sugar. For more explanation on this read part II of my III part article on carbohydrates.
Let’s take a closer look at carrots:
According to cronometer.com,
1 cup of carrots has:
14.8g carbohydrates
4.3g of which are fiber
2.2g of which are starch
7.3g of which are natural sugars (that’s important)
Compared to something like...
1 slice of unfrosted, homemade carrot cake has:
49.2g carbohydrates
1.8g of which are fiber
17.4 of which are starch
29.5g of which are sugars, some of which are natural, but most of which are likely added
In an average 2000 calorie diet where carbohydrates make up 50% of the diet, carrots provided only 6%, while the carrot cake provides 20%. Not to mention that the fiber in carrots isn’t really broken down, making the carb content closer to 10g, which is only 4% of carbohydrate needs.
Additionally, you will likely get way to full and sick of eating carrots LONG before you exceed your carbohydrate needs from them, whereas this is much easier to do with refined carbohydrates like from carrot cake.
Carbohydrates aside, carrots provide a number of vitamins and minerals, while potentially improving cardiovascular, eye, and liver health and protecting against cancer (2).
113% Vitamin A
20% Biotin
18% Vitamin K
14% Molybdenum
12% Fiber
10% Vitamin B6
10% Vitamin C (you never think of carrots for Vitamin C, but they have some!)
8% potassium
8% Vitamin B3
7% Pantothenic acid
7% Vitamin B1
7% Manganese
6% Copper
6% Folate
6% Phosphorus
5% Vitamin B2
5% Vitamin E
Conclusion: If you like carrots, enjoy them! Try not to overthink the carbohydrates from vegetables.
Sources
2. Carrots. The World’s Healthiest Foods. http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=21
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