Ever wondered what imparts the colour to some of your favourite fruits and veggies like carrot, tomato, sweet potato, mango, guava, orange, papaya etc? It's the pigment Beta Carotene that bestows the natural colour to all those sunset-hued fruits and vegetables! But it’s not merely a colouring pigment though, rather a significant antioxidant that is quite essential for overall health and wellness.
What Is Beta Carotene?
Beta Carotene is a plant pigment that comes from a large family called carotenoids that helps in imparting colours to fruits and vegetables. There are around 500 types of carotenoids including beta carotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin etc; with beta carotene bestowing fruits and vegetables the yellowish-orange hue.
Also Read: 5 Foods That Are High In Vitamin A
Apart from being a natural plant colouring agent, it is abundant in antioxidants and helps form vitamin A in the body which attends to several bodily issues. Right from diminishing the risk of cancer, reducing cardiac woes, improving respiratory functions, boosting brain health, regulating diabetes, remedying arthritis, and treating eye anomalies, to bolstering immunity, this plant pigment does it all!
Also Read: Vitamin A – Functions, Food Sources, Deficiencies and Toxicity
Furthermore, it is a blessing for achieving blemish-free glowing skin and gorgeous locks. When consumed through food and supplements, beta carotene converts into vitamin A, which in the form of Retinol treats acne, pimples and inflammatory skin conditions. Additionally, it also triggers collagen production, diminishes wrinkles, and fades blemishes while bestowing you with soft, supple, youthful skin naturally. But the promising beauty qualities of beta carotene don’t pause at just the skin, it is great for your tresses as well! Not only does it aid in hair cell regrowth, and combat thinning and breakage but also prevents dandruff to furnish you with healthy, shiny and voluminous tresses.
Without further ado, foray through this infographic to find out 5 incredible benefits of Beta Carotene to remain in the pink of health!