(Photo by Nick Collins via Pexels) By Stephen Beech via SWNS Eating baby carrots three times a week provides "significant" health benefits, according to a new study. Researchers found that snacking on the veg increased skin carotenoids in young adults. Levels of the phytonutrients were boosted even more when the healthy snack was combined with a multivitamin containing the carotenoid beta carotene.
Carotenoids - which are responsible for the bright red, orange and yellow colors of many fruits and veg - can be measured in the skin to gauge fruit and vegetable consumption since diet is the only source of the pigments. Higher levels of skin carotenoids are associated with increased antioxidant protection and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers. The marker also reflects improved skin health and immune function, say American scientists.
via GIPHY Research leader Mary Harper Simmons said: “Previous studies have demonstrated that skin carotenoid levels can be increased by consuming three times the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables every day for three weeks. “Our findings suggest that a small, simple dietary modification - incorporating baby carrots as a snack - can significantly increase skin carotenoid accumulation.” For the study, the research team randomly assigned 60 young adults to groups that received a four-week intervention of either Granny Smith apple slices, 100 grams - about half a cup - of baby carrots, a multivitam.
