Why Should I Care About Carotenoids?
Carrots are orange and full of carotenoids, and you’ve surely heard about eating carrots for good eyesight, right? This is because approximately 50 carotenoids are known to act as forerunners to vitamin A, an essential vitamin source for helping eyesight and seeing in the dark. Not only are these food nutrients essential for good vision, they are potent antioxidants, help with immune function, and are involved with the growth and repair of tissues. What Are Some Of The Better Known Carotenoids? Even though there are over 600 known carotenoids, only a few are mentioned frequently on their own accord. Some of these include: • alpha-carotene: one of the most abundant carotenoids, it can be converted in the body into retinal, an active form of vitamin A • beta-carotene: found in dark green and dark yellow fruits and vegetables, and another known precursor to vitamin A • beta-cryptoxanthin: abundant and able to be converted to vitamin A, this carotenoid is a strong antioxidant • capsanthin:
