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One of the health
benefits of carrots is well known: the carrot is rich in
beta-carotene, which the body stores and converts to vitamin A
as it is needed.
Vitamin A deficiency
leads to poor vision; thus, the age-old parental advice
concerning the benefits of carrots to good vision can be
scientifically supported.
The many components
(sometimes referred to as flavonoids) that cause fruits and
vegetables to have different colors are believed to be important
to human health.
The compound that
makes carrots and other vegetables orange is called “carotene”,
named aptly after the carrot. The overall importance of these
individual compounds to human health is the matter of some
debate. In other words, the health benefits of carrots may not
be associated with one single compound, but with the numerous
vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and dietary fiber that it
contains.
For many years
scientists have isolated these individual components and studied
their effects on human diseases in laboratory test tubes and
animal models, as well as in clinical trials, which involve
humans. The hope was that the benefits of carrots and other
fruits and vegetables could be obtained by taking a “pill”.
Researchers have now
shown that in many instances synthetic and isolated compounds
can have toxic effects on the human body. This seems
contradictory to the known health benefits of carrots and other
fruits and vegetables, but it is likely that all of the
different compounds found in a healthy diet work together.
In addition, dietary
sources of these isolated compounds do not exhibit any toxic
effects in the test-tube or in human beings.
As an example, some
of the first supplements that came on the market contained a
synthesized version of vitamin A derived from animal sources.
Fish liver oils contain this form of vitamin A. It has been
shown that too much vitamin A can be harmful or fatal.
Thus, people taking
large doses of pre-formed vitamin A, hoping to improve night
vision or to obtain other benefits, have been the victims of
what is called “vitamin A toxicity”. This form of vitamin A is
also suspected to contribute to osteoporosis, even at non-toxic
levels.
Beta-carotene, on
the other hand, is stored in the body and converted to vitamin A
on an “as-needed” basis, so there is no risk of vitamin A
toxicity to counter the health benefits of carrots in the diet.
Excessive consumption of beta-carotene or carrots can lead to a
condition called “carotenosis”, characterized by an orange tint
to the skin. Otherwise, the condition is not dangerous.
Beta-carotene is an
antioxidant, which means that it counters the damaging effects
of oxygen on the cells of the body. Various antioxidants have
been evaluated as cancer preventatives, since damage to the
cells by oxygen and other chemicals can lead to the formation of
cancerous tumors.
Many of the health
benefits of carrots and other vegetables in the diet are related
to the possibility of a reduced risk of cancer. The American
Cancer Society recommends a diet rich in a variety of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains to obtain the most benefits.
Researchers aware of
a relationship between carotene-rich fruits and vegetables and a
lower incidence of lung cancer have attempted to reproduce the
effect using beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E and other
supplements.
The conclusion of
these studies was surprising. Rather than reducing the growth of
the cancer, these isolated compounds appeared to increase both
the rate of growth and increase the risk of mortality from the
lung cancers.
The American Cancer
Society has called for a warning to be placed on supplements
containing these isolated compounds.
A better option for
people who want the health benefits of carrots in capsule form
is found in whole food supplements.
These whole food
supplements -- Juice Plus+® being one of the most popular -- are
manufactured by dehydrating and concentrating the whole food,
whether it is fruits, vegetables or whole grains.
Russell Cantwell is the editor
of
http://www.whole-food-supplements-guide.com/.
Visit
Health Benefits Of Carrots
now for more info on this vegetable and whole food supplements
that contain it and so much more.
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