Carotenoids are a large group of fat soluble colour pigments widely distributed in higher plants, algae, as well as many fungi. They are the pigments that give foods their colour, and the brighter and better the colour, the better the level of carotenoids.
Humans are not able to make carotenoids so these compounds must be obtained through the diet.
Carotenoids decrease the risk of disease, particularly certain cancers, stroke, heart disease and eye disease.
The naturally occurring carotenoids in foods that are making the news at this time, particularly in relation to helping combat cancer and eye disease such as macular degeneration, are:
- Vitamin A or beta carotene, the orange colour in food such as carrots
- lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin, the yellow to orange colour like that found in marigolds
- lycopene, the red colour of tomatoes
Lutein and eye health
Lutein has been implicated in preventing and maybe reversing macular degeneration. According to The Lutein Information Bureau lightly cooked vegetables are a better source of lutein than raw, as the lutein is released when the cell walls are broken down by the cooking. Just to make things a bit more complicated, lutein is a fat-soluble substance and so if you are on a raw food diet, it is important to eat some healthy fat with your raw vegetables, such as olive oil, for proper absorption through the digestive tract. Lutein can be found in spinach, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, eggs, red pepper, pumpkin, mango, papaya, oranges, kiwi, peaches, squash, legumes, brassicates, prunes, sweet potatoes, honeydew melon, rhubarb, plum, avocado and pear.
Lycopene and cancer
Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas (but not strawberries or cherries). Although lycopene is chemically a carotene, it has no vitamin A activity. Lycopene has been considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers, such as prostate cancer. Lycopene can be found in Viet Nam gac, tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, guava, apricots, carrots and autumn olive.
Lycopene and cancer
Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas (but not strawberries or cherries). Although lycopene is chemically a carotene, it has no vitamin A activity. Lycopene has been considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers, such as prostate cancer. Lycopene can be found in Viet Nam gac, tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, guava, apricots, carrots and autumn olive.
No comments:
Post a Comment