Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch (2024)

The are caveats to this ever-popular vegetable.

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Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch (1)

Carrots have a great rep in the world of healthy eating. They're filling, low-calorie (45 calories per cup), and rich in a number of vitamins and antioxidants like betacarotene, vitamin A, and lycopene, which all have healing and protective properties. But we must beg the question, are carrotsketo-friendly?

Since carrots are so healthy, we'd imagine that they are beneficial on the keto diet. Previously reported by Men's Health, men who consume more betacarotene—the very reason carrots are orange—can significantly delay cognitive aging, thus improving memory.

Thanks to carrot's supercharge of vitamin A, your eyes and skin can see improvements as well.

Carrots not only make you feel great internally, they can make you look tanner, all while protecting you from skin cancer.

“Certain orange and red fruits and veggies [like carrots] that are rich in carotenoids—beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lycopene—can give skin a natural glow,” Jessica Levinson, R.D., a New York-based nutritionist, previously told Men's Health.

Since the carotenoids in carrots are fat-soluble, excess carotenoids are stored in the layer of fat right under the skin, which can help the color peek through on those with naturally lighter skin tones.

The National Cancer Institute researchers also found that those with a high intake of carotenoids found in carrots were six times less likely to develop skin cancer than those with lower intakes.

With all of these benefits, are carrots still okay to have on the keto diet? This is what our nutrition experts had to say.

Can you eat carrots on the keto diet?

"Carrots can be eaten on a keto diet, but in smaller quantities because they’re higher in sugar than leafy greens," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. Since sugar counts as carbs on the keto diet, your average 1 cup of carrots has 12 grams of carbs, 4 of which are fiber.

Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch (2)

On the keto diet your goal is to enter a state of ketosis (a fat-burning state turned on by reducing your protein and carb intake), only 10 percent of your calorie intake should comes from carbs, keeping you between 20 to 30 grams of carbs per day to maintain it. If you stick to this limit, a 1 cup serving of carrots is already roughly half of your ideal carb intake.

"Depending on the keto plan, carrot intake is acceptable but needs to be moderated to help ensure overall carb intake is kept in a ketogenic range," says Brian St. Pierre, R.D., a Men’s Health nutrition advisor. Rather than a full serving carrots, aim for half to still get some of those root vegetable benefits without going over your carb limits.

Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch (3)

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Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch (2024)

FAQs

Carrots Can Be Keto-Friendly, But There's a Catch? ›

Carrots can be eaten on keto, but it may be difficult to include them regularly or in large quantities, as they contain a fair amount of carbs. Some less starchy alternatives to enjoy raw or cooked include celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Can I eat carrots while on a keto diet? ›

"Carrots can be eaten on a keto diet, but in smaller quantities because they're higher in sugar than leafy greens," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. Since sugar counts as carbs on the keto diet, your average 1 cup of carrots has 12 grams of carbs, 4 of which are fiber.

What is a low-carb alternative to carrots? ›

Among the best alternatives to carrots, the lowest in carbohydrates are bell peppers, daikon radishes, cucumbers, and zucchini.

Can you eat carrots and parsnips on a keto diet? ›

However, it is possible to incorporate small portions of some lower carb root vegetables, such as carrots, onions, and beets, into your diet. Other vegetables that grow below the ground — especially potatoes, sweet potatoes, and parsnips — contain enough carbohydrates to be counted as keto dealbreakers.

Does carrot juice break ketosis? ›

No! Carrot juice is not keto-friendly because the fiber is removed. Without fiber, carrot juice is mostly sugar and has a much higher glycemic index. Carrot juice will spike insulin and kick you out of ketosis.

Do carrots spike insulin? ›

People living with diabetes or those who want to keep their blood sugar stable should eat carrots in moderate portions or eat them as part of a balanced meal or snack. While carrots are generally considered suitable for those living with diabetes, eating too much at once may lead to high blood sugar.

Is cucumber keto safe? ›

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

Is Greek yogurt keto? ›

Is Greek Yogurt Keto? Yes! Especially for those of us who struggle to meet protein needs, Greek yogurt is an excellent choice on the keto diet. A 3/4 cup serving of full fat Greek yogurt has 5g of carbs, 9g of fat, and 15g of protein, making it my favorite choice for the keto diet.

Are tomatoes ok on keto? ›

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

Is avocado keto? ›

If you have decided to follow a ketogenic diet, you should know that the avocado is a fruit you can include in your meals due to its healthy fat content. Avocados contain 5 g Monounsaturated Fat and 1 g Polyunsaturated Fat, making avocados great for a keto diet.

Is hummus keto-friendly? ›

Hummus can definitely be part of your keto diet, but just one or two servings can quickly expend a significant portion of your daily carb allotment. If you do eat hummus, you'll want to limit yourself to a small amount — perhaps just 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 grams), which provide 4–8 grams of net carbs.

Is milk keto-friendly? ›

Cow's milk is high in lactose, a type of carbohydrate, so it is not suitable for a keto diet. Milk and related dairy products are essential ingredients in many people's diets. You may enjoy pouring milk on your morning cereal, mixing sweet creamer into your coffee, and adding cream cheese to savory pasta dishes.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What vegetables are off limits for keto? ›

Food High In Carbohydrates (Plain & Refined)

- Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

Are carrots high in carbs? ›

Are carrots OK on low carb? Carrots contain about 7 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. On a keto low-carb diet (below 20 grams per day) you may want to avoid carrots completely. But they can be OK on a moderate or liberal low-carb diet (if you're aiming to stay below 50 or 100 grams of carbs per day).

Do carrots reduce ketones? ›

Carrots (Daucus carota) were used to reduce cyclic amino-ketones in high yields and enantiomeric excesses. This cheap, eco-compatible, and efficient reducing reagent allows the easy access to precursors of biologically active products.

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