Beta carotene is a pigment present in plants, which is responsible for giving colour to fruits and vegetables. It is an organic compound and offers numerous health benefits.

Sources

Beta carotene is abundantly present in orange and green coloured vegetables. Below list will give an overview of the sources of beta carotene –

• Carrot
• Spinach
• Butternut Squash
• Cantaloupe
• Lettuce
• Parsley
• Red bell peppers
• Apricots
• Broccoli
• Baked sweet potatoes
• Papaya
• Watermelon

Biological activity

Antioxidant activity

• It exerts potent antioxidant activity that helps to protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals as antioxidants are the substances that help to neutralise free radicals in body
• It helps to prevent oxidative stress and thus helps in promoting overall wellbeing

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• Beta carotene has the ability to fight against cancer thus consumption of beta carotene rich food is thought to be very effective for reducing the risk of developing cancers
• It helps to hinder the growth of malignant cells by inducing apoptosis and also prevents metastasis
• It is very effective for reducing the prevalence of lung cancer, breast cancer, oral cavity cancer and colon cancer

Health benefits

Role on immunity

• Its consumption is very much useful for strengthening the immune system of our body
• It plays vital role in activating the thymus gland of body, which is responsible for producing T cells thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for exerting immune protection
• It helps to make the immune system able to fight off infections
• It is also associated with improving the resistance power of body as a result helps in reducing the susceptibility of becoming ill

Role on nervous system

• Consumption of carotenoids like beta carotene is extremely beneficial for boosting up the growth and development of brain
• It plays significant role in delaying cognitive aging
• It is also related with fighting against oxidative stress, which can damage brain cells as a result helps in decreasing the risk of developing dementia
• It helps to protect the brain from inflammatory damages as well, which is also accountable for lowering the risk of developing neurological disorders
• It helps to promote memory too
• Moreover consumption of beta-carotene is very much helpful for making the nervous system healthy and active

Role on respiratory health

• It has been traditionally used as an imperative remedial action for respiratory disorders
• It has seen that consumption of beta carotene rich foods are awfully useful for increasing the lung capacity
• It helps to prevent bronchitis
• Its anti-inflammatory activity is responsible for preventing the inflammation of air way, which ultimately minimises the prevalence of asthma
• It helps to improve the symptoms of emphysema as well

Role on eye health

• Beta carotene is one of the most important therapeutic substances used for centuries for promoting overall eye health
• Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A within the body and we all know that Vitamin A is essentially required by our body for obtaining a healthy and properly functioning eye thus it is always better to include beta carotene rich foods in diet
• It is very effective for promoting vision
• It also helps to protect the retina from oxidative damages
• Its consumption is very much useful for reducing the risk of developing age related macular degeneration

Role on skeletal health

• Individual suffer from osteoporosis should include beta carotene rich food in their diet as its antioxidant activity helps to exert beneficial effect against oxidative stress related to osteoporosis

• It is also associated with inhibiting the apoptosis of osteoblast by stabilising the β-catenin signaling pathway that ultimately helps to reduce in bone resorption

Role on cholesterol level

• It has seen that individual who consume beta carotene rich food have relatively lower level of LDL or bad cholesterol in their blood than others
• It is thus better to incorporate beta carotene in diet in order to reduce the risk of developing hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome

Role on skin health

• Consumption of beta-carotene rich foods are extremely helpful for boosting up the skin health
• Beta carotene is converted into Vitamin A within body, which is responsible for improving skin barrier function
• It is also associated with preventing premature aging of skin
• It helps to protect the skin from free radical induced oxidative damages too, as a result helps in reducing the risk of developing dermal disorders
• It helps to protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation
• It also helps to make the skin less sensitive to the sun thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for those people who suffer from erythropoietic protoporphyria, which is a rare genetic condition, responsible for developing painful sun sensitivity

• It helps in imparting a natural glow to the skin, which ultimately helps to make the skin beautiful as well as attractive

Role on hair health

• Deficiency of Vitamin A may cause dull, dry and lifeless hair thus it is better to prevent Vitamin A deficiency in order to obtain healthy hair and it can be possible by consuming beta carotene rich foods as beta carotene is converted into Vitamin A within body
• It helps to prevent thinning of hair as well as alopecia and encourages hair re-growth
• It is also associated with preventing dandruff

Role of beta carotene on disease prevention

Role on preventing cardiovascular disease

• Consumption of beta carotene rich food is really very useful for lowering the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in many folds
• Its cholesterol lowering activity is responsible for preventing atherosclerosis, which is considered as the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases
• It helps to reduce the susceptibility of coronary artery disease too

Role on preventing pain

• Carotenoids have potent anti-inflammatory activities that help to prevent inflammation, swelling as well as pain
• Individual suffer from arthritis should consume beta carotene rich foods as they help to improve the symptoms by preventing joint swelling and also play vital role in preventing pain

• It is also very effective for improving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis 

Role on preventing diabetes mellitus

It has seen that individual who consume recommended amount of beta carotene they are comparatively less susceptible for developing impaired glucose tolerance as well as diabetes mellitus (type 2)

Role on treating scleroderma

• Scleroderma is a disease of connective tissue, which is characterised by hardened skin
• It mainly develops due to reduced level of beta carotene in blood thus consumption of beta carotene rich food will help to increase its level that will subsequently improve the symptoms

Role on treating oral leukoplakia

• It is a condition characterised by white lesions in tongue or in mouth, which is caused by prolong smoking or drinking alcohol
• It has seen that consumption of beta carotene rich food helps to decrease the risk of developing oral leukoplakia and also helps in improving the symptoms

Risk factors

Though it is extremely healthy and should be consumed daily but it should be kept in mind that beta carotene should be consumed as per recommendation because it’s over consumption may cause digestive issues.

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