Health Benefits Of Carotene

The health benefits of carotenes are many, as they are a group of natural compounds produced by plants. These substances are responsible for the pigmentation of certain fruits and vegetables. In addition, they have certain beneficial actions on the human body.

The term “carotenes” includes chemical compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms. According to various studies, these are natural antioxidants that have a disease-preventing effect and are very important in nature. Read on to find out all about carotenes!

The importance of carotenes in nature

Plants, in addition to producing chlorophyll, synthesize carotenes to efficiently capture sunlight. In other words, they are needed for photosynthesis. They absorb ultraviolet, purple and blue light and scatter orange or red light and, in lower concentrations, yellow light.

In autumn, chlorophyll (responsible for the green color) is degraded, but the other pigments remain. Thus, the tones of orange, red and yellow appear in carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and some flowers. In the plant kingdom, carotenes are also responsible for the color of algae and fungi.

In addition, in animals, carotenes provide pigment to the feathers and beaks of certain birds, the skeleton of crustaceans and the muscles or skin of fish. In fact, omnivores have yellowish body fat as a result of consuming and storing these compounds.

This pigmentation can also be found in products of animal origin such as milk, butter or eggs.

How are they classified and how do they work?

Carotenes, also known as carotenoids or vitamin A precursors, are fat-soluble compounds. This means that their absorption can be improved by mixing with lipids.

Unlike most nutrients, cooking, chopping and sautéing foods that are a source of carotene increase their actions. These substances are classified into two groups:

Health benefits of carotene

As these substances are precursors of vitamin A, they are essential for maintaining eye health and preventing diseases such as blindness, night blindness and dry eyes. Therefore, we suggest that you include at least 6 milligrams of this nutrient in your daily menu.

One of the main causes of eye problems is retinal degeneration. In fact, continuous exposure to blue light is one of the causes. Fortunately, carotenes can absorb blue light, prevent damage and even stop the progression of diseases.

Because carotenes are compounds that have antioxidant actions, they decrease inflammation in the body. In this regard, scientific evidence shows that they reduce the risk of developing heart problems, such as atherosclerosis, a disease in which cholesterol blocks blood vessels.

Carotenes also help reduce risk factors such as hypertension, abdominal obesity and glucose intolerance. Therefore, carotenes reduce the possibility of a major cardiovascular event.

Although skin aging occurs naturally, ultraviolet rays are able to accelerate this process. According to the study “The nutritional importance of carotenoid pigments”, the consumption of adequate amounts of these nutrients protects the body against cell damage and prevents skin damage.

Both lycopene and beta-carotene provide this effect. Supplements are also effective.

In addition to the actions already described, carotenes help protect against the development of skin cancer. This is related to their antioxidant potential and aging delay, which eliminates cumulative cellular errors. In other words, these nutrients block changes in cells that could lead to malignant degeneration.

The main sources of carotenes

The distribution of carotenes in different groups of plants does not present a unique pattern. We can find them in vegetables and fruits with red, orange and yellow pigments. These include carrots, mangoes, red bell peppers, papayas and tomatoes.

We can also get carotenes by consuming peaches, guava, plums, sweet potatoes, egg yolk, corn, pumpkin, kale and tangerines.

Benefits of carotenes: conclusions

As you can see, carotenes have various benefits for human health. They are antioxidants that help the body protect cells, tissues and organs against the harmful effects of toxic substances. Therefore, carotenes prevent the development of health problems.

For this reason, it is important to eat a wide variety of foods that are high in carotene. We advise you to consult a nutritionist to receive advice on plants that can strengthen your immune system, in addition to those mentioned by us.

Also keep in mind that these compounds are available in vitamin A supplements, which you should use only under medical supervision. Excess can lead to serious health complications.