Health Events Local 2025-11-13T14:30:01+00:00

Death by Carrot Juice: A Health Tragedy

A renowned London nutritionist died after drinking 10 gallons of carrot juice and taking a high dose of vitamin A in a self-experiment. His story serves as a warning that even healthy foods can be deadly in excess.


Death by Carrot Juice: A Health Tragedy

Doctors pointed out that Brown's skin turned a yellowish-orange due to carotene accumulation, a visible indicator of high vitamin levels in the body. Brown was a well-known figure in the health field, having given lectures on nutrition and natural medicine, written publications about healthy living, and warned people about the dangers of processed foods. However, his experiment ended in tragedy. Reports from The New York Times and medical records revealed that Brown consumed about ten gallons of carrot juice in just ten days, along with concentrated vitamin A supplements. Basil Brown, a 48-year-old renowned nutritionist from Croydon, South London, died after consuming excessive amounts of carrot juice and vitamin A supplements in a health experiment he devised himself. Brown was known for his dedication to natural foods and whole foods, believing that consuming large amounts of nutrients could purify the body and boost energy. His friends noted that his passion for health sometimes bordered on obsession, as he frequently used himself as a guinea pig for testing his nutritional theories. Medical experts cite his story as a crucial warning that even natural foods can be dangerous if consumed in excess. While carrots and vitamin A are beneficial for vision and skin health when taken in moderation, the excess led to disastrous outcomes. When the liver reached its capacity, the vitamin became toxic, causing severe liver damage and multiple organ failure. During the official investigation in 1974, the final verdict was: "Death from carrot juice addiction." This excessive consumption led to vitamin A toxicity (Hypervitaminosis A), a condition caused by the buildup of vitamin A in the body, where it is stored in the liver and the excess is not expelled.