Beta-carotene is a carotenoid pigment that gives carrots and sweet potatoes their orange color. It is also found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and collard greens, as well as in other foods such as mangoes, cantaloupes, apricots and oranges.
Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision and skin, helping to regulate the immune system and promoting cell growth and differentiation (the process by which cells mature into specific types).
There are two forms of beta-carotene: provitamin A carotenoids (pro-vitamin A carotenoids) and vitamin A itself (retinol) or preformed vitamin A. Provitamin A carotenoids are converted into vitamin A in the body. Pro-vitamins are often included in multivitamins because they have antioxidant properties.
Beta-carotene may help prevent some types of cancer because it acts as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals — unstable molecules that damage cells — before they can cause damage to DNA or other parts of cells. Vitamin C also helps neutralize free radicals but does not offer the same protection against cancer as beta.
Beta Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. It is an antioxidant that helps to protect the body against free radicals. Beta Carotene is found in yellow and orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and cantaloupes. It can also be taken in supplement form or as part of a multivitamin.
Beta carotene has been shown to help protect against cancer, heart disease, eye diseases (such as age-related macular degeneration) and other conditions. Vitamin A deficiency is linked to birth defects when pregnant women do not get enough beta carotene in their diet.
Beta carotene food sources
Foods rich in beta carotene include carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and cantaloupes. Other foods high in beta carotene include leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale; apricots; oranges; mangoes; papayas; winter squash; pumpkins; petunias (flowers); peppers; tomatoes; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; collard greens; kale; mustard greens; Swiss chard
Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which is essential for vision, immunity and reproduction. Beta carotene also acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage by free radicals.
Beta carotene
Beta carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as:
Oranges
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Spinach
Beta-carotene is a plant pigment that can be converted into vitamin A. It’s found in carotenoid foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and cantaloupe. However, beta-carotene is not as effective as vitamin A in supporting eye health.
Vitamin A helps maintain good eyesight and healthy skin. It also helps support the immune system and protect against some cancers. Vitamin A supplements may be given to treat chronic eye problems such as night blindness or xerophthalmia (dryness of the cornea), but they aren’t recommended for this purpose unless prescribed by your doctor.
You can get all the beta-carotene you need from fruits and vegetables.
Here are some examples of foods high in beta-carotene:
Carrots (1 medium) — 1,349 micrograms (mcg)**
Sweet potato (1 medium) — 1,029 mcg**
Spinach (1 cup cooked) — 884 mcg**
Winter squash (1 cup cooked) — 686 mcg**
The term beta carotene is used to describe a group of compounds that have similar structures and biological activity, but differ in their chemical composition. This group includes beta carotene, alpha carotene, gamma carotene, delta carotene and beta cryptoxanthin.
Beta carotene is the most abundant form of vitamin A found in plants. It’s responsible for the orange color in many fruits and vegetables. Beta carotene can be converted into vitamin A by the body after ingestion, but it is also stored in body tissues where it acts as an antioxidant.
The following are some of the potential benefits of beta carotene:
May protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that daily supplementation with beta carotene may reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD by 25% over 5 years in people at high risk for this condition. However, since this study was conducted on people who already had signs or symptoms of AMD, it’s not clear whether this benefit will also apply to people with no signs or symptoms of AMD or other eye problems. More research is needed before we can know whether taking supplemental
Beta carotene is a pigment that gives some fruits and vegetables their color. It’s also a form of vitamin A, but it’s not the same thing as retinol, the type of vitamin A that’s found in animal products.
Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body, so it can help keep your skin healthy by supporting cell growth and repair. It may also help prevent certain types of cancer.
Unlike retinol, beta carotene doesn’t pose any risk for birth defects or liver disease if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. But it’s important not to take too much beta carotene because high levels can increase your risk of lung cancer and heart disease.
Beta carotene is a naturally occurring compound that is responsible for the bright orange color of many foods. It’s also an antioxidant, which means it can help protect the body’s cells from damage.
The main benefit of beta carotene is that it can help prevent the development of cancer. Studies have shown that people who eat diets rich in beta-carotene have a lower risk of developing lung cancer than those who don’t eat foods high in this nutrient.
In addition, beta-carotene has been shown to reduce the risk of developing other types of cancer such as colon and stomach cancers.
Foods rich in beta carotene include apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. Other good sources include cantaloupe, mangoes, spinach, kale and broccoli. You’ll also find beta-carotene in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, turnip greens and collards.
Beta carotene supplements
You can get your daily dose of beta-carotene from food sources or by taking a supplement containing synthetic forms of this nutrient. Supplements are most commonly used by people who want to boost their immune system or fight off infections such as
Beta carotene is a vitamin A precursor, which means that it’s not itself a vitamin but can be converted into one. It is found in many plants and vegetables, as well as in some animal sources.
Beta carotene is known to have antioxidant properties and may help protect against certain cancers and heart disease. It may also help lower cholesterol levels. Beta carotene is sometimes used to help prevent macular degeneration, although it has not been proven effective for this purpose.
Beta Carotene Foods
Beta carotene is found in yellow or orange colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, cantaloupe, mangoes and sweet potatoes. Other sources of beta carotene include:
Papayas
Squash
Apricots
Sweet potato leaves
Beta carotene: It’s a carotenoid that the body converts to vitamin A, and it’s found in many yellow and orange fruits and vegetables.
Benefits of beta carotene
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight free radicals. These damaging compounds can lead to cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems.
Beta-carotene is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease. While more research is needed on this subject, there’s some evidence that taking beta-carotene supplements may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk for these events.
Beta-Carotene Foods
Dark green leafy vegetables are among the best sources of beta-carotene. Try spinach, kale, collard greens or Swiss chard at least three times per week. Other good sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and cantaloupe melon.
Beta carotene is a substance that gives color to many plants and fruits. It can also be made synthetically and added to foods and dietary supplements.
Benefits of beta carotene
Beta carotene is a member of the group of carotenoids, which are fat-soluble pigments that give plants and fruits their bright colors. Beta carotene is found in vegetables like carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes; fruit like apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, papayas, peaches, pink grapefruit; and leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach and collard greens.
Beta carotene has been studied for its role in preventing various types of cancer — particularly lung cancer — as well as heart disease and macular degeneration (a leading cause of vision loss). Research shows that people who consume higher levels of beta carotene have lower risk for these diseases than those who eat little or no beta carotene.
Beta carotene supplements may reduce the risk for cataracts in smokers; however, they do not appear to help prevent cataracts in non-smokers or smokers who quit smoking before age 60 years.
Beta carotene is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that have been shown to lead to cancer and heart disease. Beta carotene is a member of the carotenoid family, which also includes alpha carotene and beta cryptoxanthin.
Beta carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, spinach and cantaloupe. It’s also available as a dietary supplement.
The body converts beta carotene into vitamin A, another antioxidant with similar benefits for health. Vitamin A is essential for vision and healthy skin because it helps maintain healthy cells that line organs such as the lungs and intestines. It’s also important for immune system function.