[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
Health See other Health Articles Title: Consume More Carotenoids for Improved Skin & Eye Health Consume More Carotenoids for Improved Skin & Eye Health Dr. Josh Axe We acquire carotenoids from eating certain plant foods, especially fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and squash. What are carotenoids? They’re fat-soluble nutrients, which means we absorb them best when we eat them along with a source of fat, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, coconut or avocado. Why do we need carotenoids? For starters, they’re phytonutrients that help fight free radical damage and provide important antioxidants to ward off disease and lower inflammation. And the benefits don’t end there. 5 Benefits of Carotenoids Different carotenoids have various uses and benefits once synthesized. Some of these include: Beta-carotene (²-carotene) and A-carotene (±-Carotene): These two carotenoids are closely related, as they’re both synthesized to form active A. Both are found in foods like squash, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. Studies have found that beta-carotene foods have anti-inflammatory, cancer-protective effects. (1) While study results have been mixed over the years, many have found that an inverse relationship between carotenoid intake, including beta-carotene, and lung cancer risk exists. (2) ²-cryptoxanthin is another similar provitamin A carotenoid that has many of the same anticancer benefits. Lutein and zeaxanthin: These carotenoids are the only two that are found in the retina and lens of the human eye, which is why they’re accredited with improving eye health and protecting vision. The best sources of these carotenoids are dark leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables (spinach, kale, turnip greens, Brussels sprouts, etc.). Studies have shown that people who consume high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin tend to experience less age-related eye problems, including macular degeneration and cataracts. Concentrated lutein and zeaxanthin supplements are now available, but research hasn’t shown that these definitely help stall development of these age-related eye diseases as much as a high-antioxidant diet does. Lycopene: One of the biggest benefits of tomato nutrition is tomatoes are the best source of lycopene, especially when they’re cooked. Many epidemiological studies have found that people who consume high amounts of tomato products (including fresh, whole tomatoes and tomato sauce) experience a reduced risk for developing diseases like prostate cancer. In a prospective study of more than 47,000 adults followed for over eight years, those with the highest lycopene intake had a risk of prostate cancer that was 21 percent lower than those with the lowest intake. (3) Some of the major benefits of a well-rounded diet that includes carotenoids of all kinds include: 1. Lowering Inflammation Once consumed, carotenoids have antioxidant activities that help block the formation of oxidative stress, the primary cause of aging and degeneration. Two of the ways that carotenoids function as powerful antioxidants include deactivating singlet oxygen and inhibiting the oxidation of fats. When it comes to the strength of various carotenoids, research shows that lycopene is one of the strongest. A lower level of inflammation is one of the best forms of protection against heart disease, the disease that causes the most deaths every year in many developed nations. (4) Carotenoids circulate in lipoproteins along with cholesterol and other fats, which makes them beneficial for protecting arteries against blockages, free radical damage and inflammation. A number of case-control and cross-sectional studies have found higher blood levels of carotenoids to be associated with significantly lower risk for arteriosclerosis, a disease characterized by thickening/hardening of the arteries. Other studies have found that higher carotenoid intake is associated with significant reductions in the risk of other types of cardiovascular diseases. (5) 2. Promoting Healthy Growth and Development Infants and toddlers need vitamin A for normal growth, development and building a strong immune system. One of the ways that carotenoids help with growth is because they allow cells to communicate with one another by playing a role in the synthesis of connexin proteins. Connexin proteins are needed to form a protective membrane layer around cells and the gap between cells where chemical signals are sent. This whole process of communication between cells allows them to effectively differentiate and take on various roles in the body without overproducing — which is why a loss of cell communication is tied to cancer development and tumor growth. (6) Poster Comment: Carotenoids are good for more than just the eyes. It also supports the immune system. http://carotenoidcomplex.com/science/science4.html Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
|
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||