Are baby carrots healthy? Intuitively, most people would say “yes”. After all, carrots are a rich source of beta-carotene – and they’re low in calories and high in fiber. But the “baby carrots” you see in plastic packages at grocery stores may not be so good for you. Here’s why.
Are Baby Carrots Healthy: What’s Different about Them?
You’ll find baby carrots in clear plastic bags in the produce section of the supermarket. They’re actually mature carrots that have been cut and shaped by a machine until they’re smaller in size. They’re cut and shaped like this, because they’re made from carrots that the grocery store can’t use because they’re too unattractive.
Here comes the unhealthy part. Once these misshapen carrots are cleaved into smaller pieces, they’re dunked into a bath of chlorine to keep them from getting the white blush that forms on carrots that have been processed. This keeps grocery stores happy, because they look prettier and stay fresher longer. What grocery store wants to sell carrots with a white coating?
Are You Eating Baby Carrots Bathed in Bleach?
The chlorine baby carrots are dipped into reacts with organic material to form chemicals called trihalomethanes, which are disinfection by-products. According to information published by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, these chemicals are toxic to the liver and kidneys and may increase the risk of tumors and reproductive problems. Even the beta-carotenes in carrots can’t compensate for this type of damage. In addition, part of the outer skin is removed when shaping baby carrots, which makes them less nutritious than unprocessed carrots.
Are Baby Carrots Healthy: The Bottom Line?
It’s convenient to have carrots already cut into bite-sized pieces, but don’t sacrifice convenience for health. Buy organic carrots that haven’t been processed or dipped in chlorine bleach. Chances are you get enough chlorine and disinfectant by-products from the water you drink. Don’t add to the toxin load your body is forced to handle by eating baby carrots. Make sure your carrots don’t come from a package – but from the earth.
References:
Mercola.com. website. “Chlorine in Your Carrots?”
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. “Trihalomethanes”
