Beta Carotene

Beta Carotene Benefits

Antioxidants inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals inside the body. They can be synthetic or natural compounds, and research has shown that they can help prevent and/or delay certain types of cell damage. Some better-known antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E; selenium; lycopene; coenzyme Q10; alpha-lipoic acid; ellagic acid; green tea extract; lutein; and zeaxanthin. Among antioxidants is a family of over 750 potent fat-soluble compounds naturally occurring in plants, algae, and bacteria: carotenoids. While all carotenoids are antioxidants, each offers its distinct health benefits, and just as interestingly, each is also specific to a tissue or organ system in the body. Let's explore the benefits of beta carotene.

Beta-carotene is probably the best-known carotenoid. The plant pigment is responsible for fruits' and vegetables' red, orange, and yellow colours. Yellow, orange, and green leafy fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, and winter squash, are all excellent sources of beta-carotene. If you're trying to increase your intake of beta-carotene-rich foods to improve your antioxidant defences, here's a tip: the more intense the colour of the fruit or vegetable, the more beta-carotene it contains.

Benefits of Beta-Carotene

• Boosts Skin Health
• Helps Maintain Healthy Organs Like The Heart, Lungs, & Kidneys
• Promotes Healthy Vision & Eye Health
• Protects Against Oxidative Stress
• Supports Cognitive Function

Who Needs Beta Carotene?

Your natural health care practitioner may believe you'd benefit from a beta-carotene supplement to round out your diet and improve your antioxidant protection, especially if you don't eat various colourful fruits and vegetables. A quality beta-carotene supplement can also help protect against the onset of many age-related and lifestyle-related conditions. Those with a family history of macular degeneration could also greatly benefit from supplementation (which may reduce risk by up to 35%), as could those with age-related cognitive decline (which improves memory and cognitive function).

Beta-Carotene Supplements

Beta-carotene can be purchased in isolated form or complex antioxidant blends along with other carotenoids and/or other potent antioxidants. Those who regularly take a multivitamin may have noticed that beta-carotene is frequently added to multivitamin/mineral blends to enhance antioxidant protection.

Beta-carotene supplements offer many benefits and come in capsules and tablets, as well as in powder and liquid forms, in a wide range of potencies and concentrations. Refer to the individual product label to ensure you select a supplement that best matches your needs.

Final Thoughts

Many conditions are associated with oxidative damage, including cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, wrinkles, premature aging, and cardiovascular disease. Both holistic healthcare practitioners and conventional doctors agree today that free radical damage is one of the principal causes of these diseases. A quality beta-carotene supplement, when combined with a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep, can be a great way to help protect against many age-related conditions.