04/04/2025
What are carotenoids? They are the natural pigments found in plants, algae, some bacteria and fungi that give fruits and vegetables (FV) the vibrant colors of red, yellow and orange. There are 2 categories Carotenes and Xanthophylls. Carotenes include beta-carotene (carrots) and lycopene (tomatoes) and Xanthophylls such as lutein and zeaxanthin (yellow FV and leafy greens.)
Sources: Wikipedia, Linus Pauling Institute.
What are the benefits of Carotenoids? The health benefits of carotenoids are multiple, including Antioxidant Protection, Improved Vision/Eye Health, Enhanced Immune Function, Skin Health, Heart Health, Cognitive Function.
Sources: www.sciencedirect.com, www.study.com, www.extension.illinois.edu
An easy, recent article for further explanation is https://health.clevelandclinic.org Eat the Rainbow: The Health Beneftis of Carotenoids July 12, 2023. 🙂
