T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II
See book keywords and concepts |
 While one carotenoid is potent in one reaction, the same carotenoid is far less potent for another reaction. This variation manifests itself in countless ways involving hundreds of antioxidants and thousands of different reactions, forming a nearly indecipherable network. Consuming one carotenoid at a time in the form of a pill will never be the same as eating the whole food, which provides the natural network of health-supporting nutrients.
Five years after our rather obscure work on these antioxidants,32 a Harvard study33 effectively kicked off the lycopene campaign. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Carotenoids: Vitamin A is a family of nutrients composed of retinal (preformed A) and carotenoid (provitamin A) groups. Carotenoids are called provitamins since they are converted to vitamin A in the body; this takes place by the action of enzymes in the intestinal tract that split the carotene molecule in half. The conversion process to make retinal from carotenoids depends on hormones and other nutrients, such as thyroid hormone, zinc, and vitamin C.
Besides being converted to vitamin A, carotenoids have useful properties of their own. |
Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH
See book keywords and concepts |
 A 1984 study assessed the carotenoid content (including beta-carotene) of mammals, with the goal of evaluating if these compounds could extend lifespan. Since cancer and aging share a number of similar features, the researchers felt that the anticancer effects of carotenoids might also extend lifespan. They concluded that evolution appears to favor mammals that absorb carotenoids non-selectively (or more easily) from dietary sources. |
Elaine Magee
See book keywords and concepts |
 As a group, the carotenoid family appears to play a significant role in boosting heart health by lowering the amount of plaque that collects in the arteries. Numerous studies have observed that people who eat a lot of carotenoid-rich foods tend to have lower incidence of fatty deposits in their carotid arteries. This finding could be especially important for stroke prevention because the carotid artery delivers oxygenated blood to the brain.
Top Lycopene-Rich Foods
Bright-red tomatoes may be a top source of lycopene, but they're not the only one. |
T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II
See book keywords and concepts |
| While one carotenoid is potent in one reaction, the same carotenoid is far less potent for another reaction. This variation manifests itself in countless ways involving hundreds of antioxidants and thousands of different reactions, forming a nearly indecipherable network. Consuming one carotenoid at a time in the form of a pill will never be the same as eating the whole food, which provides the natural network of health-supporting nutrients.
Five years after our rather obscure work on these antioxidants,32 a Harvard study33 effectively kicked off the lycopene campaign. |
Jack Challem
See book keywords and concepts |
 How to Take carotenoid Supplements
The best source of carotenoids is a diet rich in fruits and colorful, non-starchy vegetables. If you opt for supplements, it is important to obtain a combination of beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein. Natural beta-carotene (from algae) is superior to the synthetic form. Natural tomato-derived lycopene contains related carotenoids that are likely of value, but synthetic lycopene may be an alternative for people with tomato or nightshade-plant sensitivities. Lutein is extracted from marigold petals and is sold as pure (or "free") lutein and as lutein esters. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Brown L, Rimm EB, Seddon JM et al: A prospective study of carotenoid intake and risk of cataract extraction in US men. Am J Clin Nutr; 70(4):517-524. 1999
Chew BP, Wong MW, Wong TS: Effects of lutein from marigold extract on immunity and growth of mammary tumors in mice. Anticancer Res; 16(6B):3689-3694. 1996
Freudenheim JL, Marshall JR, Vena JE et al: Premenopausal breast cancer risk and intake of vegetables, fruits, and related nutrients. J Natl Cancer Inst; 88(6):340-348. 1996
Hammond BR, Johnson EJ, Russell RM et al: Dietary modification of human macular pigment density. |
| Stahl W, Junghans A, de Boer B, et al: carotenoid mixtures protect multilamellar liposomes against oxidative damage: synergistic effects of lycopene and lutein. FEBS Lett 427(2):305-308. 1998.
Stahl W, Sies H. Uptake of lycopene and its geometrical isomers is greater from heat-processed than from unprocessed Tomato juice in humans. J Nutr 122(11):2161-2166. 1992.
Steinmetz KA, Potter JD, Folsom AR: Vegetables, fruit, and lung cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Res 53(3):536-543. 1993.
Suganuma H, Inakuma T. |
Marshall Editions
See book keywords and concepts |
 Calendula: The plant contains flavanoids, carotenes, carotenoid pigments, and volatile oil, which are anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antifungal. Steep the flowers in hot water, let the liquid cool slightly, and then soak a clean cloth or piece of gauze in the liquid and apply it to the affected area. Alternatively, apply warm masses of plant material or a cold cream containing calendula to the affected area.
Black walnut tree leaves: These leaves have astringent, tonifying, antiseptic, laxative, and wounddnealing properties. |
Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews
See book keywords and concepts |
 Tomatoes are a versatile and delicious source of lycopene, the carotenoid that is a powerful cancer fighter and friend to a healthy heart. Berries, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes all provide antioxidants that are closely associated with preventing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and degenerative eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Moreover, as we face an epidemic of cognitive decline and impairment among the aging populations, berries in particular, have been shown to lessen the risk of these dreaded conditions related to the brain and cognition. |
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Rats fed synthetic beta-carotene are seen to have a drastic reduction in liver carotenoid stores,541 a condition that has not been observed with natural beta-carotene. Upon absorption, beta-carotene is metabolized into numerous other types of carotenoid compounds, none of which appear to be toxic to normal cells, but which are significantly toxic to tumor cells. |
Marshall Editions
See book keywords and concepts |
| Calendula: This herb is valued for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, which are due to the flavonoids, carotenes, carotenoid pigments, and volatile oils contained in the plant. Steep the flowers in hot water, let them cool slightly, and then soak a clean cloth or piece of gauze in the liquid and apply it to the affected area as a compress. A poultice can also be made, which involves applying warm or hot (but not hot enough to burn the skin) masses of plant material to the affected area. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
See book keywords and concepts |
| While both are abundant in green and yellow fruits and vegetables, lutein is the carotenoid most often used as a supplement. Dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin is estimated at 1 to 3 mg daily (Landrum et al 2001). Sources include spinach, collard greens, com, kiwis, zucchini, pumpkins, squash, peas, cucumbers, green peppers, and egg yolks. actions and pharmacology
EFFECTS
Lutein is an antioxidant that has immunostimulant and photoprotectant properties.
Immunomodulatory Effects: Animal studies show that lutein appears to modulate cellular and humoral-mediated immune responses. |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Many believe that the active ingredient responsible is lycopene, a carotenoid known for its antioxidant properties. All tomato products contains lots of lycopene, but it's more available to your body when it's cooked. While you're at it, add some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli to your sauce. They contain chemicals that prevent cancer.
YOU Tip: Oil On. In a test of olive oils, researchers found anticarcinogenic properties in monounsaturated fat. That would mean that olive oil, rich in monounsaturated fat, is not only a heart helper but may also deter cancer. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Prostate Cancer
Lycopene was the only carotenoid in the plasma that was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer. Subjects in the study included 578 men who developed prostate cancer over a 13-year period and a set of 1,294 matched controls (age, marital status, and smoking). A significantly lower mean lycopene level was found in the prostate cancer patients than in the controls, with a p value for the trend of 0.04. The odds ratio for all prostate cancers declined slightly with increasing quintile of plasma lycopene with a trend p value of 0.12. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Carotenoids are found only in plants, and the intense red, blue, purple, yellow, and orange colors in fruits and vegetables are due to plant pigments that have high carotenoid content. There are over 600 known carotenoids in nature, though only about 30 to 50 have vitamin A activity.
Carotenes, a group of carotenoids, are found in all dark green, leafy vegetables (spinach, collards), yellow- and orange-colored fruits and vegetables (apricots, peaches, carrots, yams, squash), and red fruits and vegetables (strawberries, tomatoes). |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Its striking color is the result of the fact that it normally dines on krill, which provides it with a highly beneficial compound called astaxanthin, a natural carotenoid that gives salmon its rich red color. Farm-raised salmon have never seen krill—they eat grain, which would be like raising lions on chocolate chip cookies. They have almost no omega-3 fat, and their color is the result of whatever selection of dye the factory farmers decide on that day. Wild salmon and farm-raised salmon are completely different foods. Yet we unknowingly use the same word for both.
Big problem. |
| And butternut is unique among the squashes in that it has a substantial amount of beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that may lower the risk of developing lung cancer. One study in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention followed more than
63,000 people in China and found that those eating the most cryptoxanthin-rich foods had a 27 percent lower risk for lung cancer. |
Jack Challem
See book keywords and concepts |
 Carotenoid levels might simply reflect fruit and vegetable consumption and the combined anti-inflammatory action of carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamins.
In one study of several thousand people, researchers found that high levels of all the major dietary carotenoids were associated with low levels of inflammatory markers, including CRP. Another group of researchers found that both CRP and high white blood cell counts, another marker or inflammation, were associated with low beta-carotene levels. |
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
See book keywords and concepts |
| New research from UCLA indicates organic avocados are the highest fruit source of lutein (a carotenoid that helps prevent eye disease) among the 20 most frequently eaten fruits.74 In addition, researchers found that avocados have nearly twice as much vitamin E as previously reported, making them the highest fruit source of this powerful antioxidant. Avocados also contain four times more beta-sitosterol than any other fruit. Some studies have found that the avocado's beta-sitosterol content, combined with its monounsaturated fat content, helps to lower cholesterol levels. |
Andrew Pengelly
See book keywords and concepts |
 It has a simple acyclic structure, and is considered the prototype molecule for the carotenoid family. lycopene—an acyclic carotenoid
Lycopene is one of the most widely consumed carotenoids; however, it lacks provitamin A activity. Through cyclisation at one or both end groups of lycopene, carotenes are formed, containing one (8 and y carotenes) or two (a and p carotenes) ionone rings. Vitamin A {a\\-trans-retmol) consists of a (3-ionone ring with a side chain of three isoprenoid units. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
 We now know that lutein and zeaxanthin—two members of the carotenoid family that are emerging as the superstars of eye nutritionare vitally important for vision. Lutein and its related compound, zeaxanthin, are highly concentrated in the macula, providing a yellow color known as the macular pigment, which protects the macula. You want that pigment to be dense, the better to protect your eyes.
A 1997 study found that subjects fed a diet high in spinach and corn experienced nearly a 20 percent increase in macular pigment density. What's the connection with those foods? |
Joseph E. Mario
See book keywords and concepts |
 Other CAROTENOIDS
•CANTHAXANTHIN A carotenoid antioxidant that improves Immune responses, inhibits genetic damage, and prevents breast cancer (in animal studies). An isolated color extract taken from edible mushrooms; and used in catsup, butter, and tomato sauces. Assimilated into fat cells; gives the appearance of a tan in the translucent skin, not affecting the pigment or melanin. Best absorbed if taken with food.
•LYCOPENE A red-pigment antioxidant like Beta-Carotene and Vitamin C in tomatoes, broccol i, red peppers, pink grapefruit, and watermelon. |
Marshall Editions
See book keywords and concepts |
| Lutein is an antioxidant in the carotenoid family, which can benefit the part of the retina where macular degeneration occurs. It also helps prevent oxidative damage. Zeaxanthin also prevents oxidative damage of the macula; take 3 mg with food. Taking 30 mg of zinc has been shown in some studies to be helpful for macular degeneration. Fish oils contain DHA, a substance concentrated in the retina of the eye, and the consumption of fish oils has been shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Take a product that can give you 1,000 mg of DHA a day. |
The Editors of FC&A
See book keywords and concepts |
| Tomatoes are chock-full of the carotenoid lycopene, an antioxidant that can slash your risk of atherosclerosis nearly in half. Tomato sauce, soup, and ketchup give you a more concentrated form of lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
• Red seedless grapes are a good source of lutein, a carotenoid that's been shown to combat early atherosclerosis. In recent studies, lutein helped prevent thickening of the carotid artery in the neck, an indication of atherosclerosis. It also reduced inflammation of LDL cholesterol in artery walls. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Both lutein and zeaxanthin are members of the carotenoid family and are being extensively researched for their demonstrated ability to prevent or reduce macular degeneration, the number-one cause of adult blindness.
Watercress Neutralizes Carcinogens
The health benefits of watercress have been known since ancient times. Watercress is a member of the family of vegetable superstars, the brassica family of cruciferous vegetables, which counts among its members such vegetable royalty as broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Swiss chard. |
David W. Grotto, RD, LDN
See book keywords and concepts |
 CANCER: High carotenoid intake has been linked with a twenty percent decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer and up to a fifty percent decrease in the incidence of cancers of the bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophagus. Extensive human studies suggest that a diet including as little as one carrot per day could conceivably cut the rate of lung cancer in half. |
| LUNG CANCER: Corn is rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid that may significantly lower the risk of developing lung cancer. One study evaluated the diet of 63,257 adults in Shanghai, China, finding that those who ate the most crytpoxanthin-rich foods had a twenty-seven percent reduction in lung cancer risk. Smokers who ate the crytopoxanthin-rich foods were found to have a thirty-seven percent reduction in risk compared to those who didn't eat them.
COLON CANCER: Corn is very high in phenolic compounds that may help in preventing colon cancer and other digestive cancers. |
| Red grapes contain the carotenoid ly-copene, which may help in fighting breast and prostate cancer.
Home Remedies
The juice of green grapes that is combined with water, alum, and salt has been reported to lessen the scars of acne when applied to the face. To overcome constipation, consume about a cup and a half of grapes daily.
Throw Me a Lifesaver!
HEART HEALTH: A study using mice fed freeze-dried grape powder found that LDL cholesterol was protected from being converted into the more dangerous type that can lead to heart disease. |
| Romaine lettuce also contains a significant amount of lactuca-xanthin, which is a rare dietary carotenoid that was found to suppress the Epstein-Barr virus, often associated with mononucleosis ("mono").
Home Remedies
Early Romans ate romaine at the end of the meal to aid in digestion and to promote sleep. Many Europeans still eat lettuce this way, but most Americans who eat romaine and other lettuces do so at the beginning of the meal. Caesar Augustus even built a statue praising lettuce because he believed it cured him of an illness.
Throw Me a Lifesaver! |
Email this page to a friend
