Nutrition is a major part of being healthy, and the need to maintain a healthy diet is substantial. Eating healthy foods can help reduce the risk for a variety of conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Here Vicki Batts, Phytonutrients.news, reflects on reasons to eat foods rich in carotenoids:

 

“Eating an array of colorful fruits and vegetables is an integral part of any healthy diet, but some of the most potent cancer-fighting compounds can be found in warm-hued produce. Carotenoids are predominately found in foods that are red, orange and yellow — though some leafy greens are also a great source of these cancer-fighting compounds.

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Carotenoids are plant nutrients that offer an array of health benefits, including antioxidant activity, immune system support and more. There are many different types of carotenoids, so choosing an assortment of nutritionally dense foods is a great way to ensure you’re getting a variety of valuable nutrients. The “standard American diet” is known for its substantial lack of nutritive value, so working towards eating more carotenoid-rich foods can also be a great step towards the goal of healthier eating.

Keep cancer at bay with carotenoids

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What are carotenoids, exactly? They are fat-soluble pigment compounds found in plants. Most commonly, carotenoids produce bright shades of red, orange and yellow — but sometimes, as in the case of kale, the plant may be a deep shade of green.

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There are over 600 different carotenoids, but some of the most commonly discussed include beta carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

As Natural Health 365 reports, there is a bevvy of evidence demonstrating caretenoids’ capacity to fight off cancer. In a recent study of women, researchers found that women who consumed more carotenoids could reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 33 percent.

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The Institute of Medicine reportedly suggests that consuming 3 to 6 milligrams of beta carotene, a well known carotenoid, is all that is needed to substantially reduce cancer risk.

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In addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer, studies have shown that carotenoids can help reduce your chances of skin cancer and lung cancer.

 

More about carotenoids

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While there are many different carotenoids, all can be divided into one of two types: Xanthophylls and carotenes.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://phytonutrients.news/2019-02-18-eating-foods-rich-in-carotenoids-significantly-reduces-your-risk-of-breast-cancer.html

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