When too many carrots aren’t good for your eyes

A few Sundays ago, I noticed an odd yellow tinge on the palms of our friend’s son.

He was playing with his building blocks on the floor, and as the sunlight hit his hands, it almost looked like turmeric stains.

But it wasn’t.

It was carotene build-up.

Too many carrots.

He’s five. And a picky eater.

His mother, my friend, was trying her best. Sneaking grated carrots into everything. Dosas. Parathas. Pulao. Even his milkshake.

We laughed at first.

But then it hit us how little we know about food. Even the ones we think are “healthy”.

Carrots didn’t even originate in India.

They came from Persia. The wild ones were purple, not orange.

And the “orange” carrot we see everywhere today? That was cultivated in Europe.

But somewhere along the way, they entered our kitchens.

Quietly. Stealthily. Like so many other things that arrived, stayed, and became “ours”.

We made halwa (dessert) out of it. Pickle. Salads. Juices.

And of course, we began associating carrots with better vision.

Ask any Indian parent: “Why should kids eat carrots?”

The answer is instant - “for the eyes.”

But too much beta-carotene doesn’t just turn your skin yellow.

It can overload the liver.

Interfere with nutrient absorption.

And ironically, when taken in excess, it doesn’t improve eyesight at all.

This isn’t to demonise the carrot.

It’s a wonderful vegetable. Rich in antioxidants.

But it’s not magic.

And certainly not the only food that supports eye health.

The real issue?

We’ve been spoon-fed half-truths.

In ads. In WhatsApp forwards. In well-meaning “tips” passed down over the decades.

So what do we do?

We pause.

We unlearn.

And we look at diversity on the plate.

Want eye-friendly options?

Think beyond orange.

• Dark leafy greens like spinach and methi (lutein-rich)

• Yellow corn, which carries zeaxanthin

• Bell peppers, for their vitamin C punch

• Amla. Drumsticks. Even sweet potatoes in moderation

Most of these are hyperlocal.

Affordable.

Seasonal.

And easily available in sabzi mandis across India.

Here’s the bigger point.

Our obsession with a single “hero food” is part of a larger pattern.

We do it with turmeric. With almonds. With ghee.

One item becomes the mascot of wellness, and everything else fades out.

But the body doesn’t work that way.

Neither does nature.

Health isn’t a single-item fix.

It’s harmony. Balance. A wide-angle view.

If you're a policymaker, perhaps it's time we integrate food literacy into schools. Not just nutrition charts, but stories. Science. Context.

If you're building a brand, maybe rethink packaging that shouts “superfood” without nuance.

And if you're just a worried parent (like most of us are at some point), it’s okay. We’ve all overdone something out of love.

I’m writing this not to alarm, but to start a conversation.

Because it took a child’s yellow hands to remind me that even goodness, in excess, can tip over.

If you’ve seen something similar or want to swap veggie wisdom across regions, I’d love to hear from you.

We’re all learning.

We’re all growing.

And that… is what nourishes us.

Until next week, stay sharp, stay safe.

Jai Jawan. Jai Kisan. 🇮🇳🌱