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    Alpha Carotene

    Facts and Food Sources of Alpha carotene

    By EmilyFebruary 7, 2019Updated:April 28, 2019No Comments3 Mins Read

    Alpha carotene is a cyclic carotene having beta and epsilon ring at opposite ends respectively. It is regarded as the second most common form of carotene. It acts as a provitamin A and a plant metabolite. It is a precursor to form Vitamin A in the body. Similar to beta-carotene, alpha-carotene is fat soluble and is consumed with some form of fat. Foods rich in alpha-carotene include orange vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin and winter squash. Other food sources include tomatoes, tangerines, sweet potatoes, napa cabbage, collards, bananas and avocados. Our body could convert alpha and beta-carotene into Vitamin A to maintain healthy skin, bones, enhance immune system and good vision. Since the body could convert alpha carotene to Vitamin A, alpha carotene is known as a precursor to Vitamin A or provitamin A compound.

     

     

    Moreover, alpha carotene helps to prevent cancer by stimulating cell to cell communication which is a process required to ensure proper cell division. It possesses flavonoids, antioxidant substances that provide color as well as flavor to various red and orange colored fruits and vegetables.

    Food Sources

    Food name Weight (g) Alpha carotene (µg)
    Pumpkin 245 11748
    Carrot 74 10546
    Butternut squash 205                                  2316
    Plantains 270 1183
    Beef broth 241 465
    Tangerines 189 386
    Coleslaw 76 323
    Green beans 240 278
    Dandelion greens 105 256
    Plums 161 225
    Collards 170 216
    Tomatoes 149 150
    Cucumber 160 130
    Acai berry drink 266 122
    Yellow corn 166 105
    Raspberries 140 95
    Grape leaves 14 88
    Passion-fruit juice 247 86
    Sweet potato 200 86
    Swiss chard 175 79

     

    Medicinal uses for Alpha-carotene

    Alpha carotene contains antioxidant properties so when ingested, it lowers the chance of getting sick from cancer. Alpha carotene also neutralizes harmful free radicals which damages healthy cells by causing the growth of carcinogenic ones.

    Health Benefits of Alpha carotene

    1. Acts as antioxidant

    Study conducted on more than 15000 adults over a 14 year period found that those with high content of antioxidant alpha-carotene in their blood had 39 percent lower chances of death from ANY in comparison to those with low levels.

    1. Prevent lung cancer

    Researchers found that people with high intake of alpha carotene rich vegetables helped to prevent lung cancer. Yellow to orange and dark green vegetables have high content of alpha-carotene which is strongly associated with lowering chances of lung cancer than intake of all other types of vegetables.

    1. Cell health

    Additionally, recent studies shows that alpha carotene is the most powerful carotenoids and strong inhibitory effect on proliferation of various types of damaging cells which affects lungs, cervix, stomach, bladder, breast and mouth. It allows normal cells to send growth-regulating signals to premalignant cells.

    References:

    https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-carotene#section=Top

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Carotene

    https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/high-alpha-carotene-foods.php

    http://www.vitaminstuff.com/alphacarotene.html

    https://www.naturalpedia.com/alpha-carotene-sources-health-risks.html

    https://www.jonbarron.org/herbal-library/nutraceuticals/alpha-carotene

    A Vitamins
    Emily

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