Cancer is defined as an uncontrollable growth of irregular cells in your body. Cancer cells may multiply on or in almost any tissue and organ, and the most common form of cancer in men and women is lung and colon cancer. Treating cancer may vary, based on the type of cancer and the individual, but many treatment plans include chemotherapy or radiation as well as prescription medications. Proponents of alternative medicine claim carrot juice may have anticancer properties as its primary active compounds may help prevent or treat cancer cells, but solid scientific data is lacking to support this claim fully.
Carrot Juice
Raw carrot juice is cited as having a total of 20 vitamins, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as 11 different minerals. Scientists believe the compound falcarinol may be among the most active constituents in carrots, and it may help prevent fungal diseases and potentially hinder cancer cell development. Due to the high nutritional value of carrots, these vegetables are often consumed to promote a healthy body and may possibly help treat certain medical conditions. For example, omega-3 fatty acids are known to promote healthy cholesterol levels and potentially reduce high blood pressure.
Scientific Evidence
A 2005 issue of "Scientific American" magazine reports that researchers from the University of Newcastle isolated a particular compound found to reduce the risk of cancer development by one-third. Throughout the study, scientists fed rats falcarinol in the form of raw carrots or in feed additives and -- at the conclusion of the 18-week study -- researchers discovered rats that were fed falcarinol had a significant reduction in the likelihood of developing full-scale cancer tumors. While this study is promising, researchers must investigate these findings in humans to determine the true value of carrots for cancer prevention or treatment.
Intake Recommendations
Upon publication, there is no official dosage recommendation of carrot juice for cancer prevention or treatment. The World Carrot Museum states consuming 8 oz. of carrot juice per day provides up to 800 percent of your daily vitamin A dosage as well as up to 35 percent of your daily vitamin C dosage. Because of this, consider drinking less than 8 oz. of carrot juice per day to prevent adverse side effects. Discuss the appropriate daily dosage of carrot juice with your physician to prevent over or under consumption.
Considerations
The study cited in the "Scientific American" magazine used raw carrots, and proponents of this vegetable claim it is best to consume uncooked carrots to ensure you receive all its helpful compounds. If you consume too much carrot juice, typically more than 8 oz. per day, you may develop a condition known as carotenemia, which causes your skin to turn an orange color as you have excessive carotene in your blood.
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