Vitamin A prevents night blindness and other eye problems, as well as some skin disorders, such as acne. It enhances immunity, may help to heal gastrointestinal ulcers, and is needed for the maintenance and repair of epithelial tissue, of which the skin and mucous membranes are composed.
pg 17
Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
Author: Gabriel Adams
Typically, when one thinks of chlorophyll it is the color green that comes to mind. However, the color yellow indicates the substance Beta Carotene. Beta Carotene is known as a photosynthetic pigment. This simply means that the orange-yellow color of Carotene captures light energy and converts it into photosynthesis.
Beta Carotene can be found in all vegetables that have an orange-yellow color. Some of the vegetables that contain the most Beta Carotene include:
Carrots
Broccoli
Spinach
Collard Greens
Sweet Potatoes
Kale
Turnip Greens
Winter Squash
Fresh Thyme
Today, researchers are very excited about the fact that Beta Carotene is an anti oxidant. Currently studies are underway to determine the effect that Beta Carotene has upon cancer cells. Beta Carotene helps prevent free radicals from causing damage in the body, the cancer causing agents. Beta Carotene is also beneficial for strengthening, repairing, and improving the Immune System.
It is important to recognize that Beta Carotene has a close relationship with Vitamin A. Since the body is incapable of storing vitamins and minerals for a long time, it is possible to ingest too much Beta Carotene. Since Beta Carotene is orange in color, the first obvious sign that too much Beta Carotene has been taken is that the skin will begin to take on an orange or yellow tint. This will leave easily, once the amount of Beta Carotene is reduced.
If you are taking Beta Carotene in pill form, it is important that your physician or health care provider is aware that you are taking these supplements. There has been a connection made between people who smoke and take synthetic forms of Beta Carotene and cancer. It should be noted that this association is not made with those who take Beta Carotene in its natural form, but only with the synthetic form. However, due to this risk, it is wise to let your health care worker know if you are taking Beta Carotene.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/beta-carotene-the-orange-phytonutrient-162128.html
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Get beta carotene in our phytonutrient supplement , which is carefully created to give you the maximum nutrition possible!
Author: Douglas Adams
Beta-carotene is the only carotenoid that can be converted to significant amounts of vitamin A, and only about one-sixth is converted in humans. Dietary fat is required for the adequate absorption of carotene. The deeper the orange coloring of a carrot, the higher the concentration of beta-carotene.
In an Arizona study, 26 of 49 patients with oral leukoplakia, a premalignant lesion, were given 60 milligrams daily of beta-carotene for six months, resulting in a significant reduction in the size of their lesions. However, excessive ingestion of beta-carotene and other carotenoids from dietary sources or supplements may cause a yellowing of the skin. Fortunately, the skin pigmentation
is reversible with reduction in the quantity of beta-carotene consumed. There is no evidence that natural sources of beta-carotene are more effective than synthetic sources.
Retinol
The major vitamin A compound is found naturally in eggs, dairy products, liver and fish-liver oil. The compounds require proteins for their absorption from the intestines. Etretinate, a synthetic retinoid, appears to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Half of 32 patients being treated for advanced cervical cancer had a 50 percent regression in the size of their tumors when treated with oral 13-cis-retinoic acid and alpha interferon.
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Douglas Adams is the owner of All Wellbeing.com , a website dedicated to increasing knowledge of health related issues.
For high quality health care products click here.
Author: Kallore Gandhi
Beta-carotene belongs to the family of a class of substances called carotenoids or carotenes. Carotene serves as an assistant or light-gathering pigment to protect fruits and vegetables from the ill effects of oxygen. The light energy it absorbs is then converted to chlorophyll, which is essential in photosynthesis.
Carotene is a provitamin. It can be stored and converted to vitamin A by the liver. The two primary isomers of carotene are alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is the more common and more important of these two primary isomers.
Beta-carotene is derived from the Latin name of carrot. Beta-carotene is a natural fat-soluble pigment. Carotene is responsible for the orange color of fruits and vegetables. Because of its ability to add color, carotene is used as food coloring. Without carotene, margarine will be white in color.
Beta-carotene can be found in yellow, red and deep green leafy vegetable and fruits. Carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, and winter squash are just some of the best sources of beta-carotene. In general, the brighter the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more beta-carotene it contains.
Beta-carotene is also an excellent anti-oxidant. It is added in fats to keep the fat from going rancid. This anti-oxidant quality of beta-carotene makes it essential in removing the free radicals from the body. Free radicals damage the basic structure of cells leading to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Because of these qualities, there are claims that beta-carotene helps prevent cancer and other diseases such as arthritis, cystic fibrosis and heart disease. Its anti-oxidant qualities make it also an immune system booster. Apparently, beta-carotene enables the human body to be stronger and healthier, thus better capable to combat viral diseases. Because of the light gathering character of carotene, there are also claims that beta-carotene is a good protection from sunlight for people with certain skin sensitivities, allergies or diseases.
These qualities of beta-carotene made experts recommend a daily dosage of beta carotene from the natural sources - fruits and vegetables. We are plagued with a polluted environment. The air we breathe and the water we consume is contaminated with germs. Our choice of food may also have toxic effects on our health. Thus, it is very important to have a daily dose of anti-oxidant to combat all these bad substance in the environment and from our food intake.
Though it is advisable to get beta carotene from fruits and vegetables, the supply of fruits and vegetables is either not sufficient or due to preference, people find it difficult to consume the recommended daily allowance of beta-carotene. Thus, a dietary supplement is necessary.
Vitabase Beta Carotene softgel capsule is the perfect supplement for this much needed vitamin. At 25,000 IU, you are assured that you are taking just the right quantity for the needed effect. Likewise, you are assured of the quality of beta-carotene with the brand Vitabase Beta Carotene. The softgel capsules make it easy to swallow even for consumers who find it difficult to gulp down pills.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/all-about-beta-carotene-90840.html
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