Your mom was right! Eating your vegetables really do make you healthy.
We have all heard of beta-carotene and it often gets the spotlight for being the reason why so these veggies are good for you. But now, alpha-carotene is receiving credit for living longer.
A current study notes that alpha-carotene, which is found in yellow-orange veggies like carrots, squash and sweet potatoes and dark leafy greens like kale, broccoli, spinach and collard greens, may be particularly effective in inhibiting the growth of certain cancers.
Both beta-carotene and alpha-carotene are members of the carotenoid antioxidant family and when ingested both are digested and then converted to vitamin A. Researchers have found that alpha-carotene plays a vital role in defending cells’ DNA from attack.
Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study for 14 years and found those with more alpha-carotene in their blood had lower risks of cancer, heart disease and death.
This is noteworthy in light of a recent observational study that found that eating vegetables didn’t do much to prevent cancer. Still, other evidence has suggested that high-veggie diets are associated with lower heart disease risk and that certain vegetables contain powerful cancer-fighting compounds.
The CDC has found that not even a third of adults eat even two servings of fruit each day and only a quarter eat three servings of vegetables.
So you are absolutely right in telling your kids to eat their veggies. And so should you.
