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Size: Required Size 50 Soft Gels Soft Gels Soft Gels. Current Stock:. Adding to cart… The item has been added. Health benefits Vision Support Immune Function Skin Health. Description Beta carotene is an important antioxidant in the body that also acts as a source of vitamin A. Adults: take one soft gel daily at mealtime.

Super Beta Carotene Beta carotene is an important antioxidant in the body that als Super Beta Carotene Reviews.

One study found that those who sleep fewer than five hours per night are more likely to have recently suffered a recent cold compared with those who sleep more. Need help falling asleep? Try adding healthful fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans to your diet.

One study found that diets rich in fiber and low in saturated fat can lead to deeper, more restorative sleep. Learn more about how a plant-based diet can lead to better sleep. These recipes contain ingredients that are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other nutrients that can support immune function.

For more recipes and to get started on a plant-based diet, visit our free Day Vegan Kickstart! Download our free e-book with more recipes to get started on a plant-based diet!

Fill out the form below and the download link will be delivered to your email inbox. The Barnard Medical Center is now offering telemedicine appointments, allowing patients to consult with caregivers online through their computers or phones. Available to residents of California, Colorado, D.

Call our office at or create a new patient account to book your first telehealth appointment. Patients must be in a state where the provider is licensed at the time of the appointment regardless of their home state. Food for Life classes teach you how to improve your health with a plant-based diet.

Find a Class. Blog Mar 13, Foods To Boost the Immune System. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email. Here is what we know now: Diet Eating a low-fat, plant-based diet may help give the immune system a boost.

Sleep Our bodies need sleep to rest and recharge. Boost your immune system with these plant-powered recipes! Recipe Pumpkin Smoothie. Recipe Orange You Bananas for Kale Smoothie. Recipe Simple Spring Rolls. Recipe Kickstart Kale and Grains Bowl. Recipe Corn and Sweet Potato Burritos. Recipe Chickpea Salad With Orange Miso Dressing.

Recipe Strawberry Spinach Salad. Recipe Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding. Vegan At Home Cookbook. References Malter M, Schriever G, Eilber U. Natural killer cells, vitamins, and other blood components of vegetarian and omnivorous men. Nutr Cancer. Vegetarian-based dietary patterns and their relation with inflammatory and immune biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Beta carotene is an antioxidant. There are many types of antioxidants, including both artificial and natural. Natural antioxidants can be found in plants. Antioxidants are thought to slow the damage to cells from waste materials called free radicals. Free radicals are created in the body through normal body processes and outside stress in the environment.

Oxidative stress may factor into several types of health conditions, including:. Antioxidants like beta carotene may help remove free radicals, thereby preventing the conditions free radicals may cause. Vitamin A is important to sight. It helps prevent eye infections by supporting the creation of a barrier around the cornea that stops bacteria from getting in.

Beta carotene helps in preventing night blindness and dry eye. It may play a role in preventing age-related macular degeneration AMD. AMD is an eye condition that causes blurry vision, most commonly in people over the age of Vitamin A deficiency might lead to night blindness nyctalopia , which is a difficulty in seeing in low-light conditions.

Increasing vitamin A or beta carotene with either supplements or through foods may be helpful. Beta carotene may help with brain function, but the research on this is not settled. Some studies have shown that taking beta carotene supplements over an average of 18 years might improve cognitive function.

Taking the supplements for shorter time periods does not appear to produce any effects. Beta carotene may help in protecting the skin from the sun's harmful rays.

However, this requires taking beta carotene in higher amounts for a long period of time. The exception would be for people who have diseases that are affected significantly by exposure to the sun such as erythropoietic protoporphyria or who are taking medications that cause sun sensitivity.

Beta carotene and other carotenoids may also help keep skin healthy overall by protecting it from ultraviolet UV light and pollution. Because UV light exposure and pollution can cause the skin to age, sun protection, including from the benefits of carotenoids, can keep skin healthy and looking younger longer.

A diet rich in foods containing antioxidants like beta carotene may help lower cancer rates. Some studies show that people who eat foods containing beta carotene or who have higher levels of beta carotene in their blood have lower rates of lung, skin , colon , breast , and prostate cancers.

However, the relationship between beta carotene and cancer is not cut-and-dried. Experts have not recommended beta carotene supplements to the general populace as they don't think it would help prevent many cases of cancer. The way beta carotene interacts with the body is too complex and not yet well understood.

Vitamin A is important in the healthy function of the lungs. Vitamin A deficiency may be a factor in the development or worsening of some lung diseases.

For that reason, getting enough beta carotene, which becomes vitamin A in the body, is important to the lungs. However, there is another side to the story. Studies have shown that taking beta carotene supplements increases the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke cigarettes. Many fruits and vegetables that are red, yellow, or orange have high amounts of beta carotene.

However, some green foods are also good sources. Some of the foods that are sources of beta carotene include:. Some medical professionals recommend about 2 milligrams of beta carotene daily.

The highest amount considered safe is about 7 milligrams daily. However, beta carotene supplements are not currently recommended for general use.

Getting enough beta carotene through food rather than a supplement is always recommended. Higher doses of beta carotene may be recommended, but this should only be done under the recommendation and supervision of a healthcare provider. Taking beta carotene supplements in high doses could make the skin appear yellow or orange carotenemia.

Higher doses are also associated with the risk of some cancers. This is especially true in people who are at higher risk of cancer after exposure to asbestos or for those who smoke.

Getting beta carotene through food sources, which is recommended, has not been shown to have the same risk of side effects as taking supplements has. Beta carotene supplements may interact with niacin , lutein , and Xenical or Alli orlistat. The amount of beta carotene in the body may be lowered in those who drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol or eat foods containing olestra a fat substitute.

If your healthcare provider recommends supplementing with beta carotene, look for the following in a supplement:. Beta carotene is important to overall health because it is the precursor to vitamin A.

However, taking supplements is not recommended for the majority of people. Instead, people are encouraged to eat foods that contain beta carotene. There are some reasons people might take a supplement, but these are not common and it would only be done with the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Beta carotene is not the same as vitamin A. It is called "provitamin A. Beta carotene from foods is an important part of a healthy diet. A Cochrane review that included eight studies that focused on antioxidants, including beta carotene, found small benefits associated with beta carotene supplementation on cognitive function and memory.

Keep in mind that the cognitive benefits related to beta carotene were only associated with long-term supplementation over an average of 18 years. Again, this is likely due to its antioxidant effects. The researchers note, though, that the sun protection dietary beta carotene provides is considerably lower than using a topical sunscreen.

Vitamin A, which the body creates from beta carotene, helps the lungs work properly. In addition, people who eat plenty of food that contains beta carotene might have a lower risk for certain kinds of cancer, including lung cancer. A study of more than 2, people suggested that eating fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids , such as beta carotene, had a protective effect against lung cancer.

That said, studies have not shown that supplements have the same effect as eating fresh vegetables. In fact, taking beta carotene supplements might actually increase the risk of developing lung cancer for people who smoke.

Diets rich in carotenoids like beta carotene may help promote eye health and protect against diseases that affect the eyes including age-related macular degeneration AMD , a disease that causes vision loss. Research has shown that having high blood levels of carotenoids — including beta carotene — may reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration by as much as 35 percent.

Plus, studies have shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables rich in beta carotene may be particularly effective in reducing the risk of AMD in people who smoke.

Read about 8 nutrients that can improve your eye health here. Research suggests that diets rich in foods that are high in antioxidants like beta carotene may help protect against the development of certain cancers. In general, health experts usually recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which are full of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that work together to support health over taking beta carotene supplements.

Beta carotene is a potent antioxidant that may benefit your brain, skin, lung, and eye health. Food sources are likely a safer, more healthful choice than beta carotene supplements. Some research has shown that cooked carrots provide more carotenoids than raw carrots.

Adding olive oil can also increase the bioavailability of carotenoids. Beta carotene is a fat-soluble compound, which is why eating this nutrient with a fat improves its absorption.

For reference, the United States Department of Agriculture USDA food database gives the following details on beta carotene content:. Pairing these foods, herbs, and spices with a healthy fat, such as olive oil, avocado, or nuts and seeds, can help the body absorb them better.

Read about other herbs and spices that have powerful health benefits here. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens are among the best sources of beta carotene.

Add a little oil to help the body absorb the nutrient. Most people can get enough beta carotene through their food without having to use supplements, so long as they eat a range of vegetables. The RDA for beta carotene is included as part of the RDA for vitamin A.

Because both preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids are found in food, the daily recommendations for vitamin A are given as Retinol Activity Equivalents RAE. This accounts for the differences between preformed vitamin A found in animal foods and supplements and provitamin A carotenoids like beta carotene.

According to the ODS , adult females should get mcg RAE per day, while adult males need mcg RAE per day. This is because beta carotene and other carotenoids are unlikely to cause health issues even when consumed at high doses. However, keep in mind that, unlike foods rich in beta carotene, beta carotene supplements have different effects on health and may lead to negative effects.

The UL for preformed vitamin A is set at 3, mcg for both men and women, including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Discuss certain medications or lifestyle factors that may influence dosing and needs.

Adults should generally get between and mcg RAE of vitamin A per day. The RDA includes both preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids like beta carotene.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health NCCIH , beta carotene supplements are not linked with major negative effects, even with large supplement doses of —30 mg per day. Size: Required Size 50 Soft Gels Soft Gels Soft Gels.

Current Stock:. Adding to cart… The item has been added. Health benefits Vision Support Immune Function Skin Health. Description Beta carotene is an important antioxidant in the body that also acts as a source of vitamin A.

Adults: take one soft gel daily at mealtime. Super Beta Carotene Beta carotene is an important antioxidant in the body that als Super Beta Carotene Reviews. Choose Options.