Are carrot tops good for juicing?

Juicing has become an increasingly popular way to get more vitamins and minerals into your diet. While most people juice the carrot itself, some also wonder if you can use the leafy green tops for juicing as well. Here’s a detailed look at whether or not carrot tops are good for juicing.

Nutritional Benefits of Carrot Tops

Before looking at the pros and cons of juicing carrot tops specifically, let’s first examine the nutritional benefits of these leafy greens. Although they are often discarded, carrot tops are edible and nutritious.

Carrot tops are highly nutritious, sometimes even more so than the carrot itself. Here is an overview of the main nutrients found in carrot tops (1):

Nutrient	Per 1 cup chopped (130g)	% Daily Value
Vitamin K	1,065% DV	1,280mcg
Vitamin A	334% DV	16,706 IU
Vitamin C	27% DV	16mg
Potassium	17% DV	655mg
Calcium	12% DV	124mg

As you can see, carrot tops are loaded with vitamin K, providing over 1000% of the daily value in just one cup. They also contain decent amounts of vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium.

In addition to vitamins and minerals, carrot tops contain antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help protect your eyes from damage from blue light (2).

Some research also indicates that compounds in carrot tops may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes complications. However, more studies are needed (3).

Benefits of Juicing Carrot Tops

There are several potential benefits to using carrot tops for juicing:

1. More Nutrients

By juicing the carrot tops along with the carrot itself, you get significantly more nutrition. As shown above, carrot tops are loaded with vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C in particular.

Juicing the greens along with the root bumps up the nutrient content of your juice considerably.

2. Antioxidants

Carrot tops contain antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help protect your vision and eyes.

Juicing the tops adds these beneficial plant antioxidants into your juice for better overall health.

3. Lowers Blood Sugar

Some early research shows compounds in carrot tops may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce diabetes complications. More studies are needed.

But juicing the tops may potentially help control blood glucose levels after meals.

4. Reduces Waste

Carrot tops are entirely edible, yet most people discard them. Juicing the tops reduces food waste and takes advantage of their nutrition.

Downsides of Juicing Carrot Tops

Although juicing carrot tops can bump up the nutritional value of your juice, there are some downsides to consider as well:

1. Bitter Taste

Carrot tops have a bitter, strong flavor compared to the sweet carrot root. For some people, juice made with carrot tops may simply taste too bitter.

2. Pesticide Residue

Since carrot tops are closer to the ground as they grow, they may contain more pesticide residue if not organic. Washing well can help remove some.

3. Oxalates

Carrot tops are moderately high in oxalates. For those prone to kidney stones, too much oxalate can be problematic.

4. Reduced Juice Yield

Adding greens like carrot tops to your juice will increase the overall volume of juice. However, it may reduce the proportion of liquid to pulp compared to just juicing carrots alone.

Best Practices for Juicing Carrot Tops

If you want to use carrot tops for juicing, here are some tips to get the most benefits:

Choose Organic

Opt for organic carrot tops whenever possible to minimize pesticide residues.

Wash Well

Give the tops a good rinse before juicing to remove dirt and debris.

Use in Moderation

Limit carrot top juice to no more than 1 cup per day if concerned about oxalates.

Mix with Sweet Produce

Cut the bitter taste by mixing carrot top juice with sweet fruits like oranges, apples, or carrots.

Use a Powerful Juicer

A powerful juicer like a twin gear masticating juicer can break down the tops more efficiently than a centrifugal model.

Healthiest Carrot Top Juice Recipes

Here are a few healthy carrot top juice recipes to try:

Citrus Carrot Green Juice

Ingredients:

• 1 cup carrot tops
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 1 apple
• 1 orange, peeled

Instructions: Run all ingredients through a juicer. Stir and enjoy!

Carrot Apple Ginger Juice

Ingredients:

• 1 cup carrot tops
• 3 large carrots, peeled
• 1 apple
• 1 inch fresh ginger

Instructions: Juice all ingredients together. Pour over ice and drink.

Carrot Top Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup carrot tops
• 1 banana
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 2 tbsp nut butter
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup to taste

Instructions: Blend all ingredients until smooth. Enjoy!

The Bottom Line

Carrot tops are highly nutritious, providing an extra boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like vitamin K, vitamin A, and lutein.

There are several benefits to juicing carrot tops, including bumping up the nutrient content and reducing waste. However, the bitter taste and higher oxalate content may be downsides for some.

If juicing carrot tops, choose organic when possible, wash thoroughly, use in moderation, and combine with sweet ingredients. Powerful juicers like twin gears are best for breaking down the greens.

With a delicious recipe, juicing carrot tops can be a nutritious way to get the most out of this often discarded part of the vegetable.