What Is beta-Carotene & What Foods Can I Find It In?
beta-Carotene is an important nutrient and antioxidant.
It's classified as a provitamin A.
Provitamin A is one of two forms of vitamin A in our diets.
By far the most important provitamin A carotenoid is beta-carotene.
The body can convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient.
Table of Contents
beta-Carotene Is An Important Carotenoid
beta-Carotene is sometimes called provitamin A.
It is the most prominent member of the group of carotenoids.
Carotenoids are the largest of the vitamin A subclasses. (source ◳)
Carotenoids are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright colors.
beta-Carotene can be converted to vitamin A by enzymes in the intestinal wall and liver. (source ◳)
The bioavailability of provitamin A ◳ is lower than once believed. So it is difficult to fulfill the daily requirements through plant foods alone.
Benefits Of beta-Carotene
beta-Carotene works as an antioxidant.
It is believed that beta-Carotene can be beneficial for cancer prevention.
However, the results of epidemiological studies are inconsistent, and the mechanisms of action of beta-carotene in cancer prevention are not clearly defined.
beta-Carotene is also believed to help increase immune cell numbers and activity.
beta-Carotene In Food
beta-Carotene is a natural colorant and an important antioxidant that occurs in many foods. (source ◳)
beta-Carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially colorful vegetables. It can be found in yellow, orange, and green leafy vegetables and fruits.
Foods You Can Find beta-Carotene In
You find beta-Carotene mostly in vegetable, spices and herbs, and snack products.
Examples of food sources include
- Freeze-Dried Sweet Red Peppers
- Dehydrated Carrot
- Paprika (Spices)
- Pepper (Spices)
- Raw Grape Leaves
- Chili Powder (Spices)
- Sun-Dried Hot Chile Peppers
Foods in our nutrition tool
You can find regularly updated, top ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.
If you are interested in what foods contain the most beta-Carotene, we recommend you visit our tool.
Here's our top ranked list of foods that contain beta-Carotene.
