Beta-carotene

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The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

One cup contains more than 2 g of protein, 2 g of fiber, 288 mg of potassium, 43 mg of calcium, 81 mg of vitamin C, plus folate, magnesium, phosphorus, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and 1,277 meg of the superstars of eye nutrition, lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin, both members of the carotenoid family, are being extensively researched for their demonstrated ability to reduce or prevent macular degeneration, the number-one cause of blindness in older adults. And by the way, the broccoli head is actually the flower of the plant.

You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

The study found that those people who already had wet macular degeneration had a more than 25 percent reduction in their risk of vision loss if they took 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400IU of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene (yes, carrots are good for your eyes), 80 milligrams of zinc, and 2 milligrams of copper every day in divided doses. P.S.: We think that a lower dose of 30 milligrams of zinc is safer for longer periods of time. YOU Tip: Sit Back.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Not only that, it's loaded with calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin A. All for less than 20 calories a cup (even less if it's raw). Bok choy has a high water content, so it becomes very limp very quickly if you overcook it. What you really want to do is cook it quickly over a high temperature so that the leaves become tender and the stalks stay crisp. Stir-frying is ideal, but bok choy stalks are also terrific raw, used with a dip. Raw bok choy might just be the lowest-calorie vegetable on the planet—one cup of the shredded vegetable has exactly 9 calories.

Toxic Overload: A Doctor's Plan for Combating the Illnesses Caused by Chemicals in Our Foods, Our Homes, and Our Medicine Cabinets Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton See book keywords and concepts

However, heavy smokers, due to their extremely low levels of vitamin C, should not take very high levels of beta-carotene by itself, as the resulting imbalance in those who do not take enough vitamin C could increase free radicals. Vitamin A found in animal-derived foods is toxic only in prolonged excessive intake and can cause birth defects. If trying to conceive, do not exceed 3,000 meg retinol (10,000 IUs) or 3,000-30,000 meg beta-carotene per day.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

There's also a meaningful amount of beta-carotene. And if all that weren't enough, they are a significant source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are fast becoming the "go-to" nutrients for eye health. Dandelion * The Latin name for dandelion—Taraxacum officinale—is your first clue as to what this plant is about. Loosely translated, it means "official remedy for the disorders." (In Greek, tar axons means "disorder," and akos means "remedy." The Arab physicians of the eleventh and twelfth centuries who were the first to write about this miracle plant called it taraxacon.

One cup of mashed pumpkin contains more than 5,000 meg of beta-carotene, another 853 of alpha-carotene, and more than 3,500 meg of beta-cryptoxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family that seems to reduce the risk of lung and colon cancer. Studies have shown that beta-cryptoxanthin can reduce the risk of lung cancer by more than 30 percent. Other studies have shown that it reduces the risk for rheumatoid arthritis as well (by 41 percent in one study). It appears to have strong antioxidant properties.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto Michael Pollan See book keywords and concepts

Here's a list of just the antioxidants that have been identified in a leaf of garden-variety thyme: alanine, anethole essential oil, apigenin, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, caffeic acid, camphene, carvacrol, chlorogenic acid, chrysoeriol, derulic acid, eriodictyol, eugenol, 4-terpinol, gallic acid, gamma-terpinene, isichlorogenic acid, isoeugenol, isothymonin, kaemferol, labiatic acid, lauric acid, linalyl acetate, luteolin, methionine, myrcene, myristic acid, naringenin, rosmarinic acid, selenium, tannin, thymol, trytophan, ursolic acid, vanillic acid.

One hypothesis is that the antioxidants in fresh produce—compounds like beta-carotene, lyco-pene, vitamin E, and so on—are the X factor. It makes good theoretical sense: These molecules (which plants produce to protect themselves from the highly reactive forms of oxygen they produce during photosynthesis) soak up the free radicals in our bodies, which can damage DNA and initiate cancers. At least that's how it seems to work in a test tube.

Or maybe beta-carotene works as an antioxidant only in concert with some other plant chemical or process; under other circumstances it may behave as a pro-oxidant. Indeed, to look at the chemical composition of any common food plant is to realize just how much complexity lurks within it.

Sometimes you can actually see the difference, as when butter is yellow or egg yolks bright orange: What you're seeing is the beta-carotene from fresh green grass. It's worth looking for pastured animal foods in the market and paying the premium they typically command. For though from the outside an industrial egg looks exactly like a pastured egg selling for several times as much, they are for all intents and purposes two completely different foods.* So the rule about eating more leaves and fewer seeds applies not only to us but also to the animals in our food chain.

But those sections of the report were written as though it was the vitamin C in the citrus or the beta-carotene in the vegetables that was responsible for the effect. I kept changing the language to talk about 'foods that contain vitamin C and 'foods that contain carotenes.' Because how do you know it's not one of the other things in the carrots or the broccoli? There are hundreds of carotenes. But the biochemists had their answer: 'You can't do a trial on broccoli.' " So the nutrients won out over the foods.

Contains 2% or less of each of the following: honey, calcium sulfate, vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed oils), salt, butter (cream, salt), dough conditioners (may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, ascorbic acid, enzymes, azodicarbonamide), guar gum, calcium propionate (preservative), distilled vinegar, yeast nutrients (monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), corn starch, natural flavor, beta-carotene (color), vitamin D3, soy lecithin, soy flour.

Food Plants of the World: An illustrated guide Ben-Erik van Wyk See book keywords and concepts

Nutrhional value Carrots are the best-known source of beta-carotene (6 mg per 100 g). They yield 25^2 kcal per 100 g and are rich in sugars (5-10%). beta-carotene (provitamin A) and other carotenoids are converted to vitamin A (retinol) in the liver. Too much can be harmful and too little causes deficiency diseases (ascribed to a lack of pigmented fruits and vegetables in the diet).

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition Hyla Cass, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are also carotenoids. beta-carotene and alpha-carotene can be turned into vitamin A, which is important for the health of the eyes and the nervous system. Antioxidants naturally complement one another, and taking one by itself in high doses can actually increase free-radical damage. Your best bet for restoring levels of carotenes is to boost your fruit and vegetable intake—which could help get rid of your gout, too!

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

You've probably heard good things about beta-carotene, but that's only one of about 500 members of the carotenoid family. Some research suggests that other carotenoids may be even more important. High carotenoid intake has been associated with a decrease of up to 50 percent in bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophageal cancer, as well as up to a 20 percent decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer. Carrots are also high in alpha-carotene, another carotenoid that appears to have health benefits of its own.

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition Hyla Cass See book keywords and concepts

It depletes the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as beta-carotene, calcium, and phosphorus. It should not be combined with stool softeners, which may increase its absorption into the body—not good, since mineral oil is toxic when taken internally. PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CHRONIC CONSTIPATION Chronic constipation may be the doctor's diagnosis when you have, for three or more months over the last twelve, had three or fewer bowel movements a week; bloating; hard stools; and a feeling that the colon never empties all the way.

Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You - And Your Waistline - And Drop the Weight for Good Dr. Steven R. Gundry See book keywords and concepts

Vitamin C is also essential for recharging other vitamins, including beta-carotene, which becomes a pro-oxidant without vitamin C's help. (Pro-oxidants are the bad guys; antioxidants are the good guys.) Because these plant compounds have become such an intrinsic part of our cellular functioning, is it any wonder that their presence or absence in our foods would act as a satiety switch? Get enough in your system and you and your genes stop looking for them. Eat foods that are devoid of them and you nosh away, assuming the next bite must contain the nutrients that were always there in the past.

There Is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+ Program Gabriel Cousens See book keywords and concepts

The antioxidants in the oil, such as beta-carotene and vitamin E, are used up as well. Also, the lipases that come in the raw blubber, needed for healthy fat metabolism, are destroyed. The hydrogenation process used to turn oils into semi-solid or solid fats requires 428?temperature for several hours. This produces high amounts of trans-fatty acids, which are more solid than cis fatty acids. In the process of physically changing its structure to a trans-fatty acid, every single cell membrane in the body is negatively affected.

Olives are rich in monounsaturated fat, with high proportions of essential amino acids, vitamins E and A, beta-carotene, calcium, and magnesium. COCONUT OIL Mature coconuts are used in the creation of health-enhancing coconut oil that is mostly solid at room temperature, so it is often referred to as coconut butter. Raw, unprocessed coconut oil smells fragrant like fresh coconuts, while most commercial coconut oils, including the brands commonly found in health food stores, are often deodorized and heat-processed, and therefore are not recommended.

GOJI BERRIES Clinical analysis shows that this unusual berry is a powerful antioxidant that contains eighteen kinds of amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen), more beta-carotene than carrots, and five hundred times the amount of vitamin C by weight than oranges. It is loaded with vitamins B-l, B-2, B-6, and E. It has been found effective in increasing white blood cells, protecting liver function, lowering cholesterol, relieving hypertension, and helping strengthen the immune system while building muscle tissue and burning body fat. Goji berries are known for enhancing longevity.

In India, the beta-carotene in spirulina was studied for its effectiveness and absorption in young children and found to be extremely effective.79 Spirulina and chlorella are excellent in juices, smoothies, on salads, and even in plain water. These are two superfoods you do not want to be without. Sweeteners Stevia is the only sweetener we recommend. Fifteen times sweeter than sugar, with no calories and a glycemic index of 0, the powdered leaf of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni has recently become highly sought after as a supersweet, low-calorie addition to a low-glycemic diet.

The Vitamin D Cure James Dowd and Diane Stafford See book keywords and concepts

A better, safer form of vitamin A is beta-carotene. You can recognize acute Vitamin A intoxication by the following symptoms: ?Nausea ?Blurred vision ?Vomiting ?Rashes ?Headaches ?Lack of coordination ?Dizziness Keep in mind, too, that chronic vitamin A toxicity can cause birth defects, liver abnormalities, osteoporosis, and central nervous system disorders, so this isn't a vitamin you can take lightly. Many people worry about taking too much vitamin D, but it's very hard to overdose on vitamin D.

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George See book keywords and concepts

N-3 fatty acids are being hyped in ways reminiscent of vitamin E, and beta-carotene before it, and oat bran before that. I must emphasize that there is much we don't yet know about the compound, including whether n-3 fatty acids from plants are as good as those from fish, and whether supplements are a help or hindrance. Take your n-3 fatty acids if you wish, but also take care not to overestimate their contribution to your cognitive health until more is known.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan See book keywords and concepts

It will supply vitamin A as beta-carotene rather than as preformed vitamin A, which can be toxic if you overdo it. Sometimes meat eaters imagine that they are getting complete nutrition without a multivitamin. The fact is, they often run low on vitamin C, folic acid, beta-carotene, and other nutrients. They also generally run low on fiber, but multivitamins cannot make up for a fiber deficit, nor can they counter the effects of the cholesterol, fat, or other undesirables found in the animal products they are eating. Vitamin B12.

The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing Gary Null and Amy McDonald See book keywords and concepts

Caution in levels of vitamin A therapy in these cases is advised, and consideration should instead be given to beta-carotene supplementation. Aggression_ Improved Mood and Behavior During Treatment Wth a Mineral-Vitamin Supplement: An Open-Label Case Series of Children. Kaplan BJ; Fisher JE; et al. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2004 Spring, 14(1):115-122. A nutrient supplement was found to be effective in children with aggression, depression and mood swings. Treatment of Mood Lability and Explosive Rage with Minerals and Vitamins: Two Case Studies in Children.

The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith See book keywords and concepts

Look for antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, bioflavanoids, resveratrol, zinc, and selenium. You'll want a formulation that includes the full spectrum of B vitamins, including the activated forms of B2 and Bfi (riboflavin-5 -phosphate and pyridoxal-5 -phosphate, respectively). You'll also want a multivitamin formula that includes vitamin D3, and make sure the vitamin E is in the form of d-alpha-tocopherol. Avoid the "dl" form, which is synthetic. You'll want a high-potency vitamin C (about 1,000 mg) provided by ascorbic acid.

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition Hyla Cass See book keywords and concepts

Alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are also carotenoids. beta-carotene and alpha-carotene can be turned into vitamin A, which is important for the health of the eyes and the nervous system. Antioxidants naturally complement one another, and taking one by itself in high doses can actually increase free-radical damage. Your best bet for restoring levels of carotenes is to boost your fruit and vegetable intake—which could help get rid of your gout, too!

There Is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+ Program Gabriel Cousens See book keywords and concepts

CoQIO, which seems to be quite good for this, also results in improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and uptakes of C, E, and beta-carotene. Alpha lipoic acid is specifically good for improving insulin resistance (sensitivity). Fiber creates an improved insulin resistance. Saturated fats make the insulin resistance worse. Vegetables decrease fasting insulin. Vitamin A-rich foods decrease insulin resistance. Stress also plays a role at the insulin resistance level. Acute stress seems to be clearly associated with severe, although reversible, insulin resistance.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan See book keywords and concepts

As cholesterol particles glide along in your bloodstream, those that enter artery walls and cause plaque buildup are the ones that have become slightly damaged, or oxidized. beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E actually protect the cholesterol particles from damage so they go on their merry way without harming you. You will find huge amounts of beta-carotene in orange vegetables, such as carrots, yams, and pumpkins, but there is also plenty in green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C is in citrus fruits, of course, but also in many other fruits and vegetables.

Food Synergy: Unleash Hundreds of Powerful Healing Food Combinations to Fight Disease and Live Well Elaine Magee See book keywords and concepts

Bottom line, tomatoes are loaded with food synergy potential because they contain: þAll four major carotenoids, which have synergy as a group (alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene). Few fruits and vegetables can say that.

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