| Beta-Carotene, a red-yellow food pigment that turns to | | | | in the laboratory, researchers found lycopene to be |
| vitamin A in the body, has been on quite a | | | | more effective than beta-carotene at inhibiting the |
| roller-coaster ride during the past few decades. It | | | | growth of certain types of cancer cells. |
| enjoyed enormous popularity when scientists linked it | | | | In a study that proves that carrots really are good for |
| with lower rates of heart disease and cancer. The | | | | your eyes, researchers found that people with the |
| mood changed, however, when researchers | | | | highest levels of carotenoids had one-third to one- half |
| discovered that taking beta-carotene supplements | | | | the risk of macular degeneration than those with lower |
| seemed to increase the risk for some of these | | | | levels. So the next time you're in the produce aisle, be |
| diseases. Now, as medical science learns more about | | | | sure to fill your cart with plenty of carotenoid-rich |
| this enigmatic antioxidant, beta-carotene's reputation is | | | | foods like spinach and other dark green, leafy |
| ascending again, albeit more cautiously than before. | | | | vegetables, and deep orange fruits and vegetables like |
| Beta-Carotene has established benefits, but the | | | | pumpkins, sweet potatoes, carrots, and cantaloupe. |
| amounts that people need are well within the range | | | | Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cantaloupe, |
| they can get from eating five or more servings of | | | | kiwifruit, |
| fruits and vegetables a day. So you do not need | | | | Navel oranges, papayas, strawberries, sweet |
| extraordinary amounts. There are definite risks with | | | | potatoes, sweet red peppers and watermelons are |
| supplementation. Why are food sources of | | | | rich in Beta-Carotene. Even though Beta-Carotene is |
| beta-carotene so much better than supplements? | | | | one of the best-studied of the antioxidants, they're only |
| Scientists still are not sure, but they suspect that it may | | | | a small part of a massive army of protective |
| be because beta-carotene has at least 500 siblings, | | | | compounds found in our food. For example, the |
| collectively known as carotenoids. It is possible that it is | | | | minerals selenium and zinc also act as potent |
| not just the beta-carotene that is causing the benefits | | | | antioxidants. So do the phenolic compounds in green |
| but the combination of beta-carotene plus its | | | | tea and the flavonoids in red wine. |
| less-recognized kin. | | | | It is has become established that everyone should eat |
| Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, for | | | | at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to |
| instance, may be considerably more potent than | | | | ensure that they get healthy amounts of |
| beta-carotene in the battle against cancer. When | | | | Beta-Carotene. |
| testing the effectiveness of each of these compounds | | | | |