Eating Carrots Can Turn Your Skin Orange, An Expert Shares How

Are you a fan of carrots? If yes, then you must be pleased to know that this vegetable is not only tasty but nutritious and rich in vitamin A. You must have heard your elders asking you to eat lots of carrots to improve your eyesight, however, did you know having them in excess can turn your skin orange?

That's right, having too many carrots causes a rare but harmless condition known as carotenemia which happens due to excess beta-carotene in your bloodstream. This pigment is responsible for giving fruits such as oranges and carrots their colour.

As mentioned above, this condition is completely harmless, so, if by any chance you see your skin turning orange, especially the face, sole and palm, just reduce the intake to gradually reduce the beta-carotene levels in your system. Internally, you can see your urine and faeces a bit yellow or orange. This is common among adults whose diet predominantly consists of vegetables, especially carrots or infants and kids who are being given foods rich in beta-carotene such as pumpkin, carrot and sweet potatoes.

According to Dr Sarah Smith, a nutritionist, carotenemia is ''just a cosmetic issue that can be easily reversed by lowering your intake of beta-carotene-rich foods or supplements." She advises limiting your intake of carrots and other orange foods to no more than one serving per day and avoiding beta-carotene supplements while recommending a varied diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables of various colours, as they contain various antioxidants and phytochemicals that are beneficial to your health.