Alpha-Carotene and Carrot Juice

When thinking about carrots, beta-carotene most frequently comes to mind. Beta-carotene helps prevent macular degeneration, among other things. Recent research reveals another powerhouse contained in carrots:

Alpha-carotene, closely related to beta-carotene and found in large quantities in carrots, reduces the mortality rate in adults. In people with a high BMI, a high alpha-carotene intake can almost halve the risk of dying, epidemiologists at the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered.

Alpha-carotene sounds amazing:

“Our findings showed that serum alpha-carotene concentrations were inversely associated with the risk of death from all causes and death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes other than cardiovascular disease and cancer”, they conclude. “They also showed that the inverse association was independent of demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and traditional health risk factors.”