Are carrots good for weight loss?

During the many times I tried to “go on a diet” to lose depressing extra pounds, raw carrot sticks were usually one of the veggies I turned to as a snack. But several years, minus 40 pounds, and tons of weight-loss coaching clients later, I get asked the question, “Are carrots good for weight loss?” a lot.

My answer?

Carrots are actually not ideal for weight loss.

What?! Are you shocked? But … a bulging Ziploc bag of carrot sticks and celery sticks are probably what you imagine when you think “diet food” AKA “bunny food.”

This might come as good news, in a way, if you’re relying on plain veggies alone to meet your weight-loss goals. Although carrots have their health benefit pros, I’ve actually found that overall, they’re not the best food for weight loss when you compare them to other vegetables you could eat instead.  

In this post, I’ll go over “Are carrots good for weight loss?” by exploring,

• Why I keep carrots out of my diet
• The differences in calories, carbs, and sugar between carrots and other veggies
• Whether or not carrots have ANY place in a healthy diet
• Fat-burning alternative veggies for mealtime and snack time (with tons more flavor, anyway!)

Are carrots good for weight loss?

As I mentioned, I used to think of carrots as a go-to food for weight loss. When I struggled with my weight, I would munch on carrots in the afternoon (pretending they were salty chips). I wondered why I still had so much trouble seeing the numbers on the scale drop.

I didn’t even pay attention to how many I ate. I would just snack away, thinking “They’re veggies, so it’s healthy.”

Which, of course, they are in some ways. But what I didn’t think about was how many grams of sugar carrots have (4.74g/100g). (1)

Yes, it’s better than ripping through a bag of Ruffles like a starving cat behind a seafood restaurant dumpster. But sugar is sugar, even natural forms of sugar like what’s in carrots.

Once I realized this fact, I decided to keep carrots out of my diet and turn my snacking towards other veggies that pack just as many or more nutrients, while minimizing sugar intake. The true key to lasting weight-loss!

Just take a look at the differences in calories, sugar, and carbs between carrots and other vegetables in order of best to not-so-great.

Benefits and nutrition of carrots

When asking, “Are carrots good for weight loss?” You have to be fair.

Even though carrots aren’t good for when you’re trying to lose weight, they do have health benefits.

They’re not “all bad.”

Carrots are still a whole nutritious food that can be enjoyed in moderation once you’re at a happy weight. Here are some of the carrot’s positives, and other ways to get the benefits without the sugar.

Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which your body changes to retinoids, a chemical that might help reduce abdominal obesity. (2)

Carrots are rich in vitamin C, Studies show that people who have adequate levels of vitamin C oxidize 30% more fat during moderate exercise than people who have low levels of vitamin C. (3)

Individuals with adequate vitamin C status oxidize 30% more fat during a moderate exercise bout than individuals with low vitamin C status;

I suggest you get vitamin C from lower-sugar options, such as fresh green and red bell pepper slices, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and spinach. (4)

Another way to get more vitamin C is to drink lemon water. Drink it in the morning and brush your teeth afterward. Lemon is acidic and can be rough on teeth.

Bonus: warm lemon water also stimulates digestion, which helps reduce bloating! Get more foods that fight belly fat and bloating here.

Weight loss foods that don’t have as much sugar as carrots

Maybe you want some healthy snack ideas for work, and carrots were just so easy. Here are more ideas!

Veggies:

Cucumber slices

Fresh green beans

Slices of bell pepper (red, green, orange, or yellow)

Other snacks:

A handful of almonds, pistachios, or walnuts,

½ an avocado

roasted kale chips

Now that you know that answer to “Are carrots good for weight loss?” are you excited to try some more flavorful and fat-busting alternatives to carrots? Let me know which snacks are making your mouth water in the comments below!