Is Carrot Juice Good for You? How to Make It in a Juicer Machine
Yes. Carrot juice is rich in vitamin A. A small 150 ml glass holds about 1,430 mcg of vitamin A, which is more than an adult needs in a whole day. Your body uses vitamin A for normal vision and a healthy immune system. Keep it to one small glass with a meal.
The figures below come from the US Department of Agriculture's food database and the US National Institutes of Health. The steps at the end show how to make it fresh in a juicer machine at home.
Why carrot juice is good for you
Carrots are orange because they are full of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a plant pigment that your body turns into vitamin A. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (fact sheet updated March 2025) calls beta-carotene the most common form of this "provitamin A" in food.
The same fact sheet explains what vitamin A does: "Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, and growth and development." It also lists carrots among the vegetables that supply it, next to spinach, sweet potatoes and broccoli.
So the old saying that carrots are good for your eyes has a real basis. Carrot juice supports normal vision because it supplies vitamin A. It does not cure eye disease, and it does not replace glasses or a visit to the eye doctor.
How much vitamin A is in one glass
The US Department of Agriculture lists the nutrients in carrot juice in its FoodData Central database (record updated April 2019). Its figures are for carrot juice per 100 g. The 150 ml column below is our own sum, since 150 ml of juice weighs about 150 g.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 150 ml glass (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 956 mcg | 1,430 mcg |
| Beta-carotene | 9,300 mcg | 13,950 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 8.5 mg | 12.8 mg |
| Dietary fibre | 0.8 g | 1.2 g |
| Energy | 40 kcal | 60 kcal |
Two notes on these numbers. First, the USDA record is for canned carrot juice. Treat the figures as a guide. Fresh juice from your own juicer may differ, depending on the carrots you buy. Second, "RAE" stands for retinol activity equivalents. It is the unit health bodies use so that vitamin A from plants and from animal foods can be added together.
How much vitamin A you need in a day
The NIH fact sheet gives the daily amounts below. Compare them with the 1,430 mcg in one small glass.
| Who | Vitamin A needed per day |
|---|---|
| Adult men | 900 mcg RAE |
| Adult women | 700 mcg RAE |
| Pregnant women | 770 mcg RAE |
| Breastfeeding women | 1,300 mcg RAE |
| Children 4 to 8 years | 400 mcg RAE |
| Children 9 to 13 years | 600 mcg RAE |
One 150 ml glass gives an adult man more than one and a half times his daily need. For an adult woman it is about twice her daily need. That is why a small glass is enough.
How much carrot juice to drink
The UK's National Health Service advises a combined total of 150 ml a day of fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies. Its 5 A Day guide (page last reviewed June 2026) says one 150 ml glass counts as one of your five daily portions of fruit and vegetables. It also says to drink juice at mealtimes, which is kinder to your teeth.
So a good habit is simple: one small glass of carrot juice with breakfast or lunch. Eat your other portions of fruit and vegetables whole.
Mixing carrots with cucumber or leafy greens makes the glass go further with fewer carrots. If you want to know more about juice and sugar, read our guide on whether fruit juice is high in sugar.
Can carrot juice turn your skin orange?
It can, if you take in a lot of beta-carotene. The NIH fact sheet says: "Consuming high amounts of beta-carotene can turn the skin yellow-orange, but this condition is harmless and goes away when you eat less of it."
This is different from taking too much vitamin A from supplements. The same fact sheet explains that high intakes of beta-carotene "do not cause the same problems as preformed vitamin A", the ready-made form found in fish, liver, dairy products, eggs and supplements. If you take a vitamin A supplement, or you are pregnant, ask your doctor how carrot juice fits in.
How to make carrot juice in a juicer machine
Carrots are hard and dense. A juicer machine that presses slowly with a screw, often called a slow juicer, is built for hard vegetables like these. The cutting and prep steps below follow the root vegetable and fruit sections of one slow juicer maker's instruction manual.
What you need
- 4 medium carrots
- 1 green apple, for a sweeter taste (optional)
- a thumb of ginger, for a warm taste (optional)
- half a lime, peeled (optional)
Step by step
- Wash the carrots under running water to remove dirt. Scrub the skin. You do not have to peel young carrots.
- Cut them to fit. Cut the tops off. Then cut long carrots in half lengthwise, so they feed into the machine more easily.
- Prepare the extras. Core the apple and remove all the seeds. Peel the ginger and cut it into small pieces, because it is very fibrous.
- Load the machine. Add the carrots, apple, ginger and lime up to the fill line, close the lid, then switch it on.
- Stir and pour. Stir the juice in the cup, then pour a 150 ml glass.
- Drink it fresh. Fresh juice tastes best right away. If you make extra, keep it covered in the fridge and drink it the same day.
- Rinse the parts straight away. Pulp that dries in the parts is hard to remove. Our guide on how to deep clean a slow juicer screen shows how to keep the fine holes clear.
Three easy carrot juice mixes
| Mix | What goes in | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | 4 carrots, 1 green apple | Sweet and mild |
| Orange and ginger | 4 carrots, 1 orange (peeled), a thumb of ginger | Bright and warm |
| Green and orange | 3 carrots, 1 cucumber, a handful of spinach cut into 3 cm pieces | Fresh and light |
What to do with the carrot pulp
Some of the carrot's fibre stays in the pulp, the dry part that comes out of the machine. Do not throw it away. Stir a spoonful into soup, fried rice, cucur or muffins. Our article on whether a slow juicer keeps the fibre explains where the fibre goes and how to use it.
Choosing a juicer machine for carrots
Carrots are hard, so they need a juicer machine that can press them. Look for one whose manual lists carrots and other root vegetables, and that comes apart easily for rinsing. If you like lime in your carrot juice, our guide on whether lime juice is good for you covers it too.
When you are ready to choose, compare the juicer machines sold in Malaysia side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to drink carrot juice every day?
Yes, within the NHS guide: keep fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies to a combined 150 ml a day, taken with a meal.
Is carrot juice good for your eyes?
Carrot juice supplies vitamin A, and the NIH says vitamin A is important for normal vision. It supports healthy eyes as part of a balanced diet. It does not cure eye conditions.
Should I peel carrots before juicing?
You do not have to. Wash and scrub them well under running water. Peel older carrots if the skin is thick or bitter.
What fruit goes well with carrot juice?
Green apple, orange and lime are popular. They add sweetness or a sour note. Ginger adds a warm taste.
Can children drink carrot juice?
Yes, in a smaller cup with a meal. Children need less vitamin A than adults, between 400 and 600 mcg a day from age 4 to 13, according to the NIH. Ask your child's doctor how much suits them.
