| Beta-carotene is a variety of carotenoid, | | | | idea to take beta-carotene supplements only in |
| commonly identified by the red, yellow, and | | | | combination with other carotenoids in a combined |
| orange pigments that color a whole host of fruits | | | | complex. You would do well to get a product that |
| and vegetables. Once in the body, beta-carotene | | | | offers a combination of beta-carotene with other |
| gets converted to Vitamin A, an essential vitamin | | | | types of carotenes, such as lycopene, zeaxanthin, |
| first identified in the 1930s. It is a vitamin that is | | | | lutein, acarelpha-carotene, and cryptoxanthin. |
| very important to help the body improve itself | | | | As well as the research that found beta-carotene |
| and grow. | | | | useful for preventing cancer and heart disease, |
| Beta-carotene works as a powerful booster of | | | | other recent discoveries hold that beta-carotene |
| the immune system as well as a potent | | | | might be useful in combating chronic fatigue |
| antioxidant that battles free radicals. These free | | | | syndrome, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, male infertility, |
| radicals are what damage cells in human bodies. | | | | and Alzheimer's disease. It is also interesting to |
| Therefore, beta-carotene plays a vital and | | | | know that modest amounts of antioxidants like |
| important role in helping the body function | | | | beta-carotene can help in improving cataracts, |
| properly and for general health. | | | | when the eye's lens is clouded and vision is |
| Whenever we eat lots of vegetables and fruits, | | | | impaired. |
| we are taking in quantities of beta-carotene at | | | | Some initial studies have suggested a likely |
| the same time. These fruits and vegetables are | | | | connection between not enough beta-carotene, as |
| thus our biggest source of beta-carotene. | | | | well as insufficient Vitamin A and E, with the |
| Supplements, however, are also popular with | | | | enhancement of lupus, an auto-immune disorder. |
| many people, and that's why a variety of health | | | | Since a lot of different products containing |
| food stores sell beta-carotene in that form. | | | | beta-carotene are widely available today, experts |
| However, supplements are not necessarily the | | | | have suggested that insufficient beta-carotene |
| right choice in some cases. | | | | intake is related to the fact that there is no RDA |
| On the issue of supplements, it's relevant to note | | | | for it as of yet. However, an amount of 10,000 |
| that enthusiasts and scientists alike have been | | | | IU is enough to provide the RDA for Vitamin A. |
| hoping that concentrated forms of beta-carotene | | | | Thus, it's fairly easy to understand why having |
| could protect the heart and possibly guard against | | | | symptoms of beta-carotene deficiency, like |
| certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, however, | | | | vulnerability to infection, dry skin, and night |
| recent studies indicate that single and large-dose | | | | blindness, are similar to a corresponding deficiency |
| supplements of beta-carotene can cause more | | | | of Vitamin A. |
| harm than good. This is because there is the | | | | The best sources for beta-carotene are definitely |
| possibility that large doses of beta-carotene could | | | | fruits and vegetables. You can find many green |
| actually increase free radicals within the body. | | | | vegetables that provide a decent amount of it, |
| Thus, until the moment that we know more | | | | and it's the dark-colored vegetables and fruits that |
| about beta-carotene's effects, it's probably a good | | | | contain high amounts of this nutrient. |