This time we will talk about the health benefits of beta-carotene. We need to know that beta carotene is an antioxidant that is quite important for our health. Among the great benefits of beta-carotene are that it supports a healthy pregnancy, protects eye and respiratory health, reduces heart risk, prevents cancer, prevents diabetes, improves brain health, prevents dandruff and is good for hair health, reduces acne and reduces symptoms of scleroderma.
Let’s see more about beta-carotene below.
Table of Contents
What is Beta Carotene?
Beta carotene is a compound that belongs to the carotenoid compound, where this compound is related to carrots. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant compound found in many brightly colored vegetables. Beta carotene compounds known as antioxidants have many health benefits for those who consume them. Beta-carotene is a pro-vitamin antioxidant from vitamin A.
the best part about beta carotene supplements? The fact that it is safe even though vitamin E itself is not very safe when consumed in high amounts. The conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin E only when needed. So, if the body does not need it, then beta-carotene does not undergo conversion. So, when consuming more (in excessive amounts), it will be disposed of as waste. To get these antioxidant compounds is very easy, by consuming lots of colorful fruits and vegetables we will get enough beta-carotene.
Feel very for us to know, what does beta-carotene do to our body? Ok, we will summarize this discussion regarding the health benefits of beta-carotene below. Keep reading the article to the end!
Best Benefits of Beta Carotene
1. Good for a healthy pregnancy
During pregnancy there is a very important vitamin that is sufficient, this is vitamin A, although there are bad effects if we consume it too much. This is the reason why beta-carotene is the best alternative to meet the needs of vitamin A because the level of vitamin A toxicity from beta-carotene is very low. The role of vitamin A is very important in fetal brain development. Even this is important along with the development of the fetal lungs. Quoted from naturalfoodseries.com that pregnant women need 40% of vitamins and this amount will increase when breastfeeding mothers because breastfeeding mothers need about 90% of vitamin A. Eating plant foods is the best way to get beta-carotene.
2. Good for skin health
Among the benefits of vitamin A which is very beneficial for the skin is maintaining good skin health. It maintains the moisture content in the skin and keeps it healthy and protected from ultraviolet rays. Vitamin A also keeps the skin hydrated and helps with possible sunburn. It can’t replace sunblock but it supports skin protection and this is very important.
More: Best Essential Oils For Dry Skin, Good for Winter
3. Protects eyesight
The next benefit of beta-carotene is to help eyesight. The eyes experience a decrease in the ability to perceive light as we age. This is called the rate of oxidation in the eye. More commonly it may be known as macular degeneration and this is an eye condition that can put the eye in blindness.
The benefits of beta-carotene as a family of carotenoids is to reduce the rate of macular degeneration which in turn slows vision loss. The use of beta-carotene along with zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E are essential nutrients for eye health and keep the eyes functioning normally for years to come.
4. Benefits of beta-carotene for breathing
Beta-carotene also has great benefits on lung health. The lungs are respiratory organs that are important to get beta-carotene because it can reduce the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Fruits and vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene and bioflavonoids can cause mucus secretion in the lungs. It also minimizes asthma attacks and wheezing and shortness of breath.
So, one way to maintain lung health is to consume fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids.
5. Minimize heart disease
Consuming foods rich in antioxidants from vitamins such as vitamins E and C is said to be able to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This disease is the cause of plaque buildup in the arteries that reduces blood flow, this is dangerous because it can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
6. Prevent cancer
Antioxidants such as beta-carotene have always been important in the prevention of cancer. Antioxidants are useful in preventing oxidative damage and suppressing unwanted cell mutations.
Even in pre-cancerous cases, beta-carotene has been shown to slow down cell development and boost immunity resulting in rapid cell recovery.
More: 15 Foods To Prevent Breast Cancer
7. Good for improving brain health
The brain is not always young and fresh like when you were little. Along with increasing age, a person will experience some damage to brain cells so that their comprehension and reasoning power will decrease, including if a person is increasingly forgetful. These all will certainly experience our quality of life.
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are some of the common symptoms of brain damage. Both of these diseases are the effects of brain cell damage that occurs as a person ages. The more healthy foods we consume, the less bad this effect, especially if we consume a source of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is useful for reducing oxidative damage to the brain, maintaining cognitive, and minimizing dementia function.
8. Useful for treating Oral Leukoplakia
Oral leukoplakia is a common oral health problem in those who smoke tobacco or smoke. So, on their gums appear thick white patches or on the cheeks inside the mouth. At first we think of this as thrush, whereas this is a growth that is mostly benign, but if the circumstances are favorable it will turn into cancer. Those with this condition, consuming foods rich in beta-carotene reap many beneficial benefits.
More: Tomatillo Nutritional Facts and Health Benefits
9. Prevent diabetes
Furthermore, the benefits of consuming beta-carotene is to prevent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a type of disease that occurs due to unhealthy living habits or due to an unhealthy diet and is accompanied by a gradual malfunction of insulin or insulin sensitivity.
In its development, type 2 diabetes is influenced by inflammation in the body. This affects the pancreatic cells that are responsible for insulin. Not only are fruits and vegetables low on the glycemic index, but beta-carotene has been shown to reduce insulin sensitivity. So, one of the foods that type 2 diabetics should take note of is insulin sensitivity.
10. Reduces the symptoms of Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a skin problem that occurs due to auto-immune which affects the hardening of the skin. One of the causes of scleroderma is a reduced intake of vitamin A in the blood. This is replenished by consuming foods rich in beta-carotene and vegetables. If the intake of vitamin A is sufficient then this condition will heal by itself.
11. Prevents dandruff
Dandruff can also occur with a lack of beta-carotene and vitamin A in the daily diet. In addition, beta-carotene deficiency also causes hair to look dry and well-groomed. If you experience this condition, consider taking vitamin A. This will minimize head problems related to hair and dandruff.
