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All the health conscious people must have heard about the term Beta Carotene. We know it is a healthy compound and very good for our body. But what is exactly Beta Carotene? Let's find out.Beta Carotene is a natural molecule known as carotenoid that can be found mainly in plants and fruits. Beta Carotene is extremely essential for us as our body converts Beta Carotene into active Vitamin A.

Alpha Carotene is a Provitamin A and one of the fifty carotenoids able to be converted in the body into retinol or Vitamin A. It is also known as α-carotene- a form of carotene with a β-ring at one end and an ε-ring at the other. It's a very potent antioxidants and recent research has shown that this perhaps more potent antioxidant than Beta Carotene. Alpha Carotene is very beneficial for those who are in the habit of smoking and alcohol consumption. Also, people with low intake of fruits and vegetables need more Alpha Carotene.

In short, Beta-carotene is a carotene that is found in dark green and dark yellow fruits and vegetables. It is responsible for naturally occurring pigments and gives fruits and vegetables bright and unique colors. Best thing about Beta-carotene is it is Provitamin A that means our body converts it to Vitamin A after consuming it. It is a powerful antioxidant and has many health benefits. Beta-carotene is good for the heart, skin, immune system, eye sight, and fights cancer. It also fights against free radicals and prevents diseases such as asthma and anaemia.

Carrots are one of the most nutritious vegetables and should be a part of the healthy diet. These deep orange edible roots are great source of beta-carotene. Carrots belong to the family of Apiaceae and come in various colours - white, yellow, red, or purple. Scientifically carrot is called Daucus carota and there are over hundred different varieties of carrots. Orange carrots are the best ones; more orange means more beta-carotene is present in the carrot. Besides carrots are excellent source of - Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Dietary Fiber and Potassium.

Many of us like sweet potatoes and they are easily available all year round. This starchy and sweet root vegetable belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and native to the South America. Sweet potatoes come in different varieties and their colors vary from white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, or deep purple. These different colored sweet potatoes are also nutritionally different from one another. For example, yellow or orange flesh colored sweet potatoes contain very good amount of beta-carotene and purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are high in antioxidant properties.

Vegetarians diets are typically high in carbohydrates. Although they are high in vitamins such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and folic acid, as well as fiber, they do not contain enough vitamin B12. Thus, if you avoid all animal foods, you may have a hard time dealing with stressful situations.

Carrot juice, made from the orange colored vegetable that Bugs Bunny chews, provides you with superb nutritional benefits. Not only this drink is the powerhouse of vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin C, it is also rich in calcium as well as iron. The presence of Beta-carotene antioxidant gives carrots their bright orange color.

In honor of National Nutrition Month, The Miami Dentist blog is happy to share part II our free radical article series.  Today, I'd like to spend a little time following up this week's guide to free radicals.  In this article we'll dive into how to implement simple dietary and behavioral changes to both prevent free radical damage, as well as reverse some of the effects.