Do Carrots help with a sun tan or sun burn?
The high beta-carotene content of carrots boosts the skin’s natural protection against the sun’s rays. Beta-carotene belongs to a group of natural chemicals known as caretonoid, which provide defence against free radicals. These are damaging molecules which are produced by the body in increasing numbers when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Once beta carotene is in the body, it is split by cells in the intestine to form Vitamin A, a nutrient which provides defence against free radicals and which also stimulates the skin’s capacity to repair itself more quickly and effectively after sun damage. Beta-carotene helps create the red, orange and yellow colours found in many vegetables, fruits and flowers. In the body it supports the production of melanin, which darkens the skin in response to sunlight. The body uses beta-carotene from the diet to protect skin cells from the damaging UV rays that cause sunburn and skin cancer. Studies show that adding beta-carotene to people’s diet
