Natural Beta Carotene 15mg

This product provides a guaranteed level of 15mg of natural beta carotene per capsule plus mixed carotenoids. These important carotenoids are found in many fruits and vegetables and have been of great interest to nutrition scientists. The body is able to convert beta carotene into Vitamin A according to its needs, and remaining beta carotene is stored in the skin where it can be seen as a light gold colour and is known to give some protection against sun damage.

– High strength beta carotene 15mg, with mixed carotenoids.

– Small one-a-day capsules.

– Made in the UK to pharmaceutical GMP standards.

Although more than 600 carotenoid pigments have been identified in foods, it appears that only six of them are used in significant ways by the blood or tissues of the body.  Apart from beta-carotene, which is probably the best-known carotenoid, these are alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Carotenoids are found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but the foods that represent the most concentrated sources may not be part of your daily diet.  Alpha-carotene is found in carrots and pumpkin, lycopene is abundant in red fruits, such as watermelon, red grapefruit, guava and, in particular, cooked tomatoes.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are plentiful in dark green vegetables, pumpkin and red peppers; and cryptoxanthin is present in mangoes, oranges and peaches. To prevent certain diseases it may be advisable to choose supplements that provide a mixture of the six key carotenoids.

Large doses of carotenoids, consumed in food or in the form of supplements, can turn your skin orange, especially the palms or your hands and the soles of your feet. These effects gradually go away if you reduce your intake.