If you are dreaming of a beautiful healthy glowing skin and hair, with bright eyes and to gete loaded with energy, never forget the immune booster, Beta-Carotene. Be Beautiful from inside and stay gorgeous even in your late 50s by adding Vitamin-A rich foods to your daily diet.
What is Beta-Carotene? :-
It is one of a group of red, orange and yellow pigments called carotenoids. It is naturally found in many fruits, vegetables and grains. Food rich in Beta-Carotene reduce the risk of cancers, heart disease, cataracts and an eye disease called age-related muscular degeneration.
Why do you need Beta-Carotene? :-
Beta-Carotene is used in treating Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, AIDS, breast cancer, head aches, hear burn, night blindness, depression, bronchitis and all kinds of skin disorders including psoriasis and sun burns.
Beta-Carotene is most effective to treat sun sensitivity in people who have inherited a blood disorder called “erythropoietic protoporphyria.”
Beta-Carotene is converted into Vitamin-A which is an essential nutrient and an antioxidant. Sufficient intake of foods rich in beta-carotene boosts the immune system and protects the cells. It keeps us active and energetic and helps in preventing cell damage, eye diseases and fevers.
Foods Rich in Beta-Carotene:-
Here are the top 10 list of foods rich in Beta-Carotene according to USDA:-
1) Carrots:-
Carrots are the No.1 source of Vitamin-A in the form of Beta-Carotene. Whether you like to drink or eat, you get an excellent amounts of retinol from carrots. Each 100 gm of carrots contain 334% of Vitamin-A according to USDA.
2) Pumpkins:-
Pumpkin is one of the low calorie food. One cup of pumpkin contains about 1900 mg of Vitamin-A in the form of Beta-Carotene and only about 84 calories. Pumpkin is also rich in Vitamin-C.
3) Sweet Potatoes:-
This sweet tasting root vegetables are not only inexpensive but are also provide many beta carotene benefits. One medium sized sweet potato has about 1096 mg of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene. Simply steam for few minutes and enjoy the antioxidant benefits with a sweet taste.
4) Spinach:-
Spinach claims a special place in terms of its phytonutrients such as flavonoids and beta-carotene. It have all the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and have the ability to slow down cancer cells. One cup of cooked spinach contains 943 mcg of vitamin-A and 888 mcg of vitamin-K along with other excellent vitamins and minerals, making it a perfect food to become super strong popoye.
5) Collards:-
Collard greens have the cholesterol lowering ability and removes the toxins from the body. They play a crucial role in providing health benefits in the form of cancer protection. Just like spinach, one cup of chopped and cooked collards have rich content of vitamin-K, vitamin-A and all other essential vitamins and minerals. The rich vitamin-A makes collards an effective antioxidant.
6) Kale:-
Kale is yet another leafy vegetable with huge amounts of beta-carotene/Vitamin-A. Kale is a green leafy vegetable closer to wild cabbage. Every half cup of Kale has 478 mg of beta-carotene while it has as low as 20 calories only. It is beneficial for cholesterol lowering. Kale can be enjoyed in juices, baking or by incorporating in main dishes.
7)Turnip Greens:-
Turnip leaves are as edible as the roots are. These leaves are highly nutritious with 441 mg of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene, in half cup of chopped and cooked leaves. The leaves are far more nutritious than the roots itself, with high amounts of folate and calcium.
8) Beet Greens:-
Beet greens are top sources of several nutrients. Beet greens are in the same plant family as spinach.It has 276 mg of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene with only 19 calories per half cup. Beet greens are also rich in Vitamin-K and Potassium.
9) Winter Squash:-
Winter squash has almost as much beta-carotene as turnip greens have. Winter squash is very palatable and a delicious source of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene.
10)Cabbage:-
Cabbage, especially the Chinese pak-choi is another excellent source of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene.If you want a beautiful skin and an immune boost, do not forget the highly nutritious cabbage. Chinese cabbage or pak choi has 89% of Vitamin-A in the form of beta-carotene with low calories and is also rich in Vitamin-K.