Health + Wellness — carotenoids

Overview As was discussed in a previous article, What Are Free Radicals?, just the very act of living–breathing, eating, and building up and breaking down the tissues and structures that make up your body–generates free radicals. These free radicals are necessary for many reactions that occur in your body, but if not precisely controlled, these free radicals can cause problems. The reason is because free radicals are highly reactive, and as such can cause damage to anything close to them. This damage, if not repaired, can lead to permanent changes in your body and what you eventually see as a...

Overview Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant present in many of the common foods we eat. Also called rhodopurpurin, it is classified as a carotene, within the broader carotenoid family. Lycopene is a bright red colored pigment, and as such is a popular natural additive used to dye foods. Natural Sources The most common source of lycopene is tomatoes, which have a relatively high concentration of lycopene and are often consumed as tomato juice, tomato sauce, ketchup, or raw. Other good sources of lycopene include gac (a fruit from Southeast Asia), carrots, watermelon, guavas, papayas, and grapefruit. By far the highest...

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. More specifically, it is grouped within a class of carotenoid molecules called xanthophylls, which also include compounds such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and many others. Lutein and zeaxanthin are nutrients both present in egg yolks and various leafy green vegetables and are important for proper functioning of the retina of the eye. They have also been shown to support your skin and eyes during sun exposure. Likewise, astaxanthin is an incredibly powerful antioxidant. It has been shown to promote your defenses against the effects of sun exposure, and furthermore to prevent other types of oxidative damage to...