Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Devanshi Singh (Beauty Expert) on 01st Oct 2020

Beta Carotene: Benefits, Uses and Risks

In case you landed on this page while looking for everything you can get your hands on Beta carotene, then congratulations! You have arrived. Today we will be uncovering all the little details about Beta carotene, its uses, side effects, and much more.

So let's begin!

The name beta carotene originates from the Greek "beta" and Latin "carota" (carrot). It is the yellow/orange shade that gives vegetables and natural products their rich hues. H. Wachenroder solidified beta carotene from carrot establishes in 1831 and concocted the name "carotene."

WHAT IS BETA CAROTENE?

Beta-carotene is a natural pigment found in plants that gives them their shade.
Beta carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants and natural products, particularly carrots and bright vegetables.

The name beta-carotene is derived from the Latin name for a carrot. It offers yellow and orange foods grown from the soil, their rich shades, and shade nourishments, for example, margarine.

As per researches, in the body, beta-carotene changes over into vitamin A (retinol). We need vitamin A for decent vision and healthy eyes - that's only one of the many benefits of vitamin A.

Taking large doses of vitamin A can be harmful, yet your body delivers as much vitamin A from beta-carotene as it needs. This implies that beta-carotene is viewed as a protected wellspring of vitamin A. Nonetheless, an excess of beta-carotene can be problematic for individuals who smoke. (Getting high measures of either vitamin A or beta-carotene from food, not from supplements, is still okay.)

Advantages of Beta Carotene

Alongside different carotenoids, beta carotene is a particle that can be handily changed over into vitamin A in the liver.

1) Restrains the oxidation of cells!

It shields the body from free extremists by restraining the oxidation of cells. Vitamin A & Beta Carotene are additionally thought to have numerous other positive medical advantages, including boosting resistance and assisting with forestalling night visual deficiency and other eye issues.

2) Secures against Specific Diseases!

Not just this, Vitamin A secures against poisons, for example, colds, influenza, and diseases only as tumors. Carotenoid enhancements can help diminish the danger of creating age-related macular degeneration. As per the National Institutes of Health, taking carotenoid supplements containing cell reinforcement properties, for example, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, may be useful to treat and forestall age-related macular degeneration.

A few examinations have indicated that carotenoids can help lessen your danger of creating atherosclerosis (the development of plaque in your vein dividers that, in the end, can constrict your veins). Hypertension, glucose prejudice, and stomach stoutness are all contributing factors for atherosclerosis, and studies have indicated that carotenoids help improve these factors.

Carotenoids may likewise help improve early atherosclerosis that hasn't yet advanced to all-out cardiovascular sickness.

3) Skin Aging Protection

Most skin maturing is brought about by UV radiation (daylight). Studies have indicated that carotenoids, when devoured, are accumulated in your skin and fill in as a line of guard against skin harm from UV radiation. It's proposed that lycopene and beta-carotene give the skin its security.

Lycopene and beta-carotene supplements are additionally successful at forestalling skin redness brought about by UV radiation. This impact is much more articulated when a lycopene or beta-carotene supplement is combined with vitamin E.

Disadvantages of Beta Carotene

1) Expanded Risk of Lung Cancer with Supplements

Numerous investigations have demonstrated that high admission of carotenoids (beta-carotene) in supplement structure altogether expands the danger of creating a cellular breakdown in the lungs in current and previous smokers.

The outcomes demonstrated a higher frequency in the cellular breakdown in the lungs in those accepting the enhancement.

Notwithstanding, the occurrence of other significant tumors wasn't influenced. A comparable report led with asbestos laborers demonstrated that they, as well, may have a greater danger of creating a cellular breakdown in the lungs with high admission of carotenoid supplements.

Nonetheless, recollect that expending sufficient foods grown from the ground as a significant aspect of a general sound eating regimen has numerous advantages. Dietary admission of carotenoids—rather than in supplement structure—is related to a lower cellular breakdown in the lungs' risk.

2) Carotenemia

This is a condition wherein the skin becomes yellowish due to a high beta-carotene measure in the body.

3) Carotenemia

This is reversible, and keeping in mind that it is typically brought about by consumption through food, extreme admission of enhancements can cause it.

4) Canthaxanthin Retinopathy

This condition is indicated by yellow-brilliant bits in the eye and vision field imperfections and issues with vision lucidity. It is brought about by taking high portions of a carotenoid called canthaxanthin. Luckily, it is reversible: your eyes and vision will return to its normal state once you quit taking canthaxanthin.

5) Lycopenodermia

Taking high measures of lycopene can turn your skin briefly to a deep orange discoloration.

6) Unfavorably susceptible Reaction

Likewise, it is conceivable to have an unfavorably susceptible response to carotenoid supplements with numerous different substances. You should see your doctor promptly on the off chance that you presume you have a hypersensitive reaction. Tingling, expanding, and rashes are common indications of this.

7) Associations with Medications

In case you're right now taking any drug, it's ideal to talk with your doctor before beginning carotenoid supplements. Beta-carotene supplements, specifically, may have an adverse reaction with cholesterol medications.

Rich Sources of Beta Carotene

Foods that naturally contain carotenoids include:

Carrots
Mangoes
Tomatoes
Plums
Sweet potatoes
Kale
Spinach
Cantaloupe
Winter squash
Apricots
Tangerines
Plantain
Turnip greens
Red peppers

The Final Word

While there are many potential health advantages of taking beta carotene, it may cause many health problems if consumed at a high level. But it is known to everybody that excess of anything can cause problems.

It is commonly superfluous to enhance carotenoids, and smokers should maintain a strategic distance from these. An ideal approach to get your carotenoids is from a solid eating regimen that incorporates many carotenoid-containing soil products.

Therefore, in any case, on the off chance that you think you need to utilize carotenoid supplements, talk about it with your doctor in the first instance.

FAQs about Beta Carotene

1) How much Vitamin A can you consume in a day?

The maximum amount of vitamin A that can be consumed on a daily average is given below.

1. 900 micrograms/mcg for adult men
2. 700 mcg/micrograms for adult women

This does not include the amount prescribed by a doctor for a medical condition. For the exact amount, what should be needed can be different.