Will eating carrots really turn your skin orange?

Carrots are a healthy, delicious and crunchy snack, and there have long been stories about how this vegetable can improve your vision. But a common myth about them may have you scratching your head: can eating too many carrots turn your skin orange?

Eating an excessive amount of carrots can actually cause your skin to turn a yellowish color.

Carrots are high in beta-carotene, a pigment in plants that gives them their vibrant color. It’s actually found in a variety of foods, including sweet potatoes and butternut squash. In the body, beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A, which boosts your immunity and improves your vision. But when you eat too much beta-carotene, it can lead to carotenemia, a condition that causes skin discoloration.

This new skin tone is usually seen on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet, and children are more affected than other population groups.

However, before you give up carrots altogether, this condition is not toxic or harmful, and it may go away! By limiting the amount of beta-carotene foods in your diet, the yellow pigment will begin to decrease.

Eating a varied diet of fresh fruits and vegetables will help prevent skin discoloration. Another tip to improve your overall health is to add more fiber to your diet.