Carrots are good for your skin and reduce the risk of several diseases: what a new study has discovered

Carrots are much more beneficial than previously thought, and this has been confirmed by the prestigious Samford University – the best in Alabama according to Forbes Inc., The Economist And The Wall Street Journalwhich also places it in 10th place in the ranking of the best university colleges in the USA – which has just concluded a study on the orange vegetable rich in carotenoids, the plant pigments that protect our body from excessive light. Therefore proving to be precious especially during the summer season. Well, according to the study, regularly eating baby carrots (they have the same nutritional values ​​as the others, but are particularly convenient when it comes to a snack on the go) considerably increases the levels of carotenoids in the skin, and this is linked to a increased antioxidant protectionas well as to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. “Previous studies have shown that a good result could be obtained by increasing the recommended portion of fruits and vegetables by three times, every day and for three weeks,” explained Mary Harper Simmons, one of the authors of the new research. “Our results instead suggest that a small and simple dietary modification, such as the inclusion of baby carrots as a snack, can significantly increase the accumulation of carotenoids in the skin.” A small “effort” for a great result, in short.

How the study was conducted

As for the method adopted: the researchers recruited 60 young adults and divided them into groups. During the four weeks of observation, each of them had to regularly consume: apple slices; at least 100 grams of baby carrots; a multivitamin supplement also containing beta carotene; a combination of supplement and baby carrots.

Mary Harper Simmons and her team They used a spectroscopy instrument known as a “Veggie Meter” to measure each participant’s skin carotenoid levels, both at the start of the study and at the end of the dietary intervention. The researchers found that the group that took the beta-carotene multivitamin and ate 100 grams or half a cup of baby carrots at least three times a week had 21.6 percent higher skin carotenoid levels than before. At the same time, participants in the group that only added mini carrots to their diet had 10.8 percent higher skin carotenoid scores. Those who only added apples or the multivitamin had no change in skin carotenoid levels. “We found that combining carrots with a multivitamin that contains beta-carotene may have an interactive effect on the accumulation of carotenoids in the skin,” Simmons explained. She consequently advises: «To get the maximum benefits, people should choose a multivitamin that contains beta carotene and remember to eat carrots at least three times a week».

Not just carrots

The precious carotenoids are actually also found in many other vegetables and fruits, to which they give bright colors such as yellow, red, orange or deep green. These are in particular tomatoes, apricots, mangoes, oranges, peppers, watermelons, spinach, pumpkins, kale, sweet potatoes and melons. Which is no coincidence that nature is rich in, in Italy, especially during the summer months. In a 2022 study published in the journal Trends in Food Science & Technologythe researchers also specified that the main sources of carotenoids, in addition to fruits and vegetables, are algae, insects and mushrooms. Explaining why carrots and similar are good for you: «Carotenoids contain oxygen, including lutein and astaxanthin. These two types of carotenoids, especially lutein, are the predominant carotenoids in the prevention of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and cataracts, and also have excellent antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties».