| If you carefully scrub organic carrots with a vegetable brush, you need not peel the layer where many nutrients reside. Low carotenoid consumption is correlated with the prevalence of many forms of cancers, including lung, bladder, stomach, prostate, and colon. Recent research shows that carotenoids other than beta-carotene (such as canthaxanthin, phytoene, lutein, xanthophylls, and lycopenes) offer better protection against cancer than beta-carotene itself. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 It's such a pleasure to stroll through the garden's terraces and pick fresh fixings for a vision-preserving dish: a handful of purslane, one of the best sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids; some bell peppers, with their ample supplies of vitamin C; and a few cherry tomatoes, loaded with the carotenoid lycopene. A quick steaming, and I have a dish that pleases my palate and protects my eyes.
Now you may be wondering, what about carrots? After all, carrots have a long-standing reputation of being good for the eyes. |
David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG
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 P-carotene is the most important of the carotenoid vitamin A precursors. It is used commercially as a yellow food coloring for fats (for example, margarine) and as a sunscreen agent to prevent the photosensitivity reaction of erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Fig. 6.100. p-carotene
Lycopene
Lycopene occurs in the ripe fruits of tomatoes (Lyco-persicon esculentum), Citrus species, persimmon (Diospyros kaki), dog rose (Rosa canina), and numerous other fruits and berries. |
Jean Carper
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 That suggests that protection by high carotenoid foods like carrots and spinach may not issue from a single beta carotene bullet but from a collusion of hundreds of untested, antioxidant carotenoids plus other unknowns. It's what British Columbia cancer expert Dr. Hans Stich calls "a cocktail effect," which he considers insufficiently explored. Nature does not fashion itself after Eli Lilly or Hoffmann-LaRoche or Searle. More likely, he philosophizes, foods release a shower of chemoprevention unmatched by a single drug. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Lycopene
Lycopene is a carotenoid and powerful antioxidant (stronger than beta carotene) that gives tomatoes as well other fruits such as watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and guava their red color. While lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the human blood and tissues, it is not produced naturally in the body and thus must be obtained through dietary sources.
Recent studies point to the growing interest in lycopene and its potential for promoting health, particularly with respect to heart disease and cancer. |
Gary Null
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| Lutein is a yellow-pigment carotenoid found in vegetables and fruits. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells against the damaging effects of free radicals. Since it's not made in the body, lutein must be obtained from food or vitamin supplements.
This substance is important to all of us because it helps maintain eye health. Research shows that people with diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin are at a lower risk for degeneration of the macula, which is a part of the retina. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older adults.
Leafy green kale is a fine source of lutein. |
Steven G. Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews
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 Nine: Beta Cryptoxanthin
Aim for at least 1 milligram per day of this carotenoid from a combination of the following foods:
1 cup cooked butternut squash (cubes) = 6.4 mg.
1 cup cooked red bell pepper (strips) = 2.8 mg.
1 Japanese persimmon (2V2 inches in diameter) = 2.4 mg.
1 cup mashed papaya = 1.8 mg.
1 large sweet red bell pepper (raw) = .8 mg.
1 cup fresh tangerine juice = .5 mg.
1 medium tangerine = .3 mg.
Ten: Glutathione
Optimum daily recommendation amounts are not yet known. |
| Interestingly, lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the prostate gland.
Dr. Giovannucci's subsequent study in 1999 showed that, of all tomato products, tomato sauce consumption—at just two servings a week—was by far the most reliable indicator of reduced risk for prostate cancer.
Two important points emerge from these studies. The first, which I mentioned earlier, is that processed tomatoes—sauce and paste—are more effective than raw tomatoes at reducing cancer risk. In the raw tomato, the lycopene is bound into the cell walls and fiber. |
| Five: Lycopene
Aim for 22 milligrams per day of this carotenoid from a combination of the following foods:
1 cup tomato sauce (canned) = 37 mg.
1 cup R. W. Knudsen Very Veggie vegetable cocktail from concentrate = 22 mg.
1 cup tomato juice = 22 mg.
1 watermelon wedge (Vi6 of a melon 15 inches long, 7V2 inches in diameter) = 13 mg.
1 cup canned stewed tomatoes = 10.3 mg.
1 tablespoon tomato paste = 4.6 mg.
1 tablespoon ketchup = 2.9 mg.
Vi pink grapefruit = 1.8 mg. Keep in mind that tomato sources of lycopene are far more bioavailable from cooked vs. raw (unprocessed) tomato products. |
| THE POWER OF RED
Lycopene, a member of the carotenoid family and a pigment that contributes to the red color of tomatoes, is a major contributor to their health-promoting power. Lycopene has demonstrated a range of unique and distinct biological properties that have intrigued scientists. Some researchers have come to believe that lycopene could be as powerful an antioxidant as beta-carotene. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 Carrots are the primary source of the carotenoid beta carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body); tomatoes are the best source of the carotenoid lycopene. Lycopene has twice the antioxidant activity of beta carotene and has been touted to be particularly effective in treating pancreatic, prostate, and cervical cancer. Yet scientific research has focused more on beta carotene than lycopene. Several studies have shown that dietary intake of beta carotene is inversely related to risk of cardiovascular disease. |
Steven G. Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews
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| The word "carotenoid"—derived from "carrot"—comes from the yellow-orange color of these nutrients, which at first were linked primarily with carrots. Carrots (and sweet potatoes) also contain rich amounts of beta-carotene. It's abundant in fruits and vegetables, and we've long known that the beta-carotene in foods helps prevent many diseases, including lung cancer. It was the connection between beta-carotene and lung-cancer prevention that led to some fascinating studies. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Studies suggest that damage caused by free radicals may be the culprit behind AMD, and that it may be possible to prevent this type of damage by increasing the intake of carotenoid antioxidants (see Chapter 6), as well as other targeted nutrients, amino acids, and minerals. The carote-noids lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin, in combination, work better than single compounds to protect the eyes. |
Joseph E. Mario
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 Lutein twice daily; Bilberry; Ozone I.V. orbyautohemotherapy. IfCD-4s test under 150 count, take 800 mg. Acyclovir 6 times daily. SEE Herpes-6A and Immunity.
D
•DANDRUFF SEE Hair. •DARIER'S DISEASE SEE Skin. •DEATH SEE Mortality.
•DECONGESTANTS Angelica, Anise, Cocoa, Coffee, Ephedra,Eucalyptus, Kola nuts. Mints Peppermint and Spearmint, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, and green Tea.
•DEGENERATIVE DISEASES SEE Healing. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Beta-Carotene
The liver uses the carotenoid beta-carotene to manufacture vitamin A, so it is sometimes referred to as preformed vitamin A. Beta-carotene is abundant in dark green, yellow, and orange vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, as well as some fruits. It also is found in some foods, including eggs, fish, fortified milk, and organ meats such as liver. It is best to get beta-carotene from food sources that are easily assimilated by the body. |
Jean Carper
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| Krinsky credits the carotenoid's antioxidant effects on unknown chemical powers unrelated to vitamin A. That means that beta carotene has no corner on anticancer activity.
In fact, some experts strongly suspect that other carotenoids, and not beta carotene, are the main cancer antagonists in certain foods.
According to Dr. |
Nicola Reavley
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 In a 1997 study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health compared carotenoid concentrations in the breast fat tissue from 46 cancer patients and 63 women with benign breast lumps. They found an increased risk in those with low levels of beta carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.4
Lung cancer
Several population studies have shown lower levels of carotenoids in lung cancer cases. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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| Carrots are the primary source of the carotenoid beta carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body); tomatoes are the best source of the carotenoid lycopene. Lycopene has twice the antioxidant activity of beta carotene and has been touted to be particularly effective in treating pancreatic, prostate, and cervical cancer. Yet scientific research has focused more on beta carotene than lycopene. Several studies have shown that dietary intake of beta carotene is inversely related to risk of cardiovascular disease. |
Bradley J. Willcox, M.D., D. Craig Willcox, Ph.D., Makoto Suzuki, M.D.
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 Deep yellow, orange, and dark green vegetables derive their color from carotenoid pigments (including beta-carotene and lycopene) and the acan-thocyanins, a class of flavonoids. These pigments remain stable when cooked and are fat-soluble, so the nutritional content of the veggies is preserved during cooking. Vegetables make it easy to meet the shojin ryori goal of having five colors on our table at every meal. |
| By cooking tomatoes with oil, you can absorb the maximum amount of their lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant associated with lower risk for prostate and breast cancer. This recipe also works as an appetizer when served with thin garlic toast instead of spaghetti. |
Gary Null
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| Lycopene. The carotenoid lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that is stronger than beta-carotene. The human body does not produce lycopene, so it must be obtained from dietary sources. Look for foods that have red pigment when you're thinking about this nutrient—e.g., tomatoes, a great source, as well as watermelon, beets, guava, and even pink grapefruit.
Recent studies cite lycopene for maintaining heart health, and for cancer prevention. Lycopene exhibits anticancer properties in animal studies, in vitro, and in human beings. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the prostate,3 and high blood levels of lycopene have been linked to prostate cancer prevention.4 Lycopene is also a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cells than all other carotenoids.5
Another study found that for the 25% of people with the greatest tomato intake, the risk for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract was 30-60% lower compared with those who ate fewer tomatoes. These reduced risks were statistically significant.6 A study of women found that the 75% who ate the least amount of tomatoes had between 3.5 and 4. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
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 But "the higher your carotenoid levels, the lower your risk of getting a heart attack," he says.
Gelcap or Carrot?
Researchers across the board resoundingly recommend eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, including some servings rich in carotenoids, to protect yourself against heart disease. They are less likely to recommend beta-carotene supplements.
Why would beta-carotene in the diet be better than beta-carotene in a gelcap? "One possibility is that in some of these studies, it's not just the beta-carotene that's good for you, it's also something else," says Dr. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Lycopene
Lycopene, the carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color, is an important quencher of free radicals. Found in high concentrations in the prostate gland, it apparently plays a role in protecting against abnormal cellular proliferation. A study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that men with the most lycopene in their blood had the lowest risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene packs an antioxidant punch at least two to three times more potent than that of beta-carotene. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| If you have an eye disease, or are at risk for one, please supplement your daily vitamins with the following:
• Vitamin C, at least 1,000 mg a day, with bioflavonoids
• A mixed carotenoid supplement
• Vitamin E, 400 IU
• Vitamin A, 10,000 IU a day
• Quercetin and rutin are bioflavonoids that help keep your retinas healthy; try 1,000 to 1,500 mgaday. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Carrots also contain lutein, another anticancer carotenoid. Research suggests that it is the synergy of all the compounds in carrots that makes them such an important deterrent in the development of cancer. Eating just one medium-sized raw carrot four times a week can reduce the odds of developing lung cancer. Carrots stimulate production of T-helper cells, immune cells that protect the body from all types of infection; guard against cardiovascular disease; reduce inflammation; and slow the aging process. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 Various carotenoid supplements, especially red lycopene, have shown benefit in double-
In one interesting case, a 20-year-old Japanese woman who wanted to lose weight ate almost nothing except carotene-rich pumpkins for 2 years. Her skin, of course, turned bright yellow, and she sustained some liver damage. Fortunately, she was able to regain her health quickly after adjusting her diet. It seems it takes a very large amount of carotenoids to hurt you. blind studies against oral lesions. |
Prevention Magazine
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 There are good, clear associations between eating a lot of beta-carotene-packed foods and low levels of heart disease and cancer," says carotenoid researcher Dexter L. Morris, M.D., Ph.D., vice chairman and associate professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. "But some of those benefits may be from some other carotenoid in fruits and vegetables that we have not even begun to study yet. |
Rebecca Wood
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 It contains a high rate of carotenoids and carotenoid factors, which explains its effectiveness as a dye and as a medicinal herb. Annatto's vast ethnobotani-cal uses include treatment for headaches, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, jaundice, epilepsy, and tumors. It is also used as an aphrodisiac and douche.
Use Today, annatto tints fusion cuisine and Latino dishes. Annatto also colors some Philippine and other Asian dishes including an unauthentic version of Beijing duck. Annatto's faint, floral perfume and modest taste does little, if anything, to flavor food. |
Prevention Magazine
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| In one study, German researchers rated 39 foods according to their carotenoid content. Papayas came out on top, with half a fruit providing almost 3.8 milligrams of carotenoids. By contrast, grapefruits (which came in second) have 3.6 milligrams, and apricots have 2.6 milligrams.
Papaya also contains a number of protease enzymes, such as papain, which are very similar to enzymes produced naturally in the stomach. |
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