A high level of carotenes in the blood could reduce the fat present in your arteries, which would limit your risk of atherosclerosis and therefore of cardiovascular disease. The good news is that you can fill up on carotene through food.
A news study scientist published within Clinical Nutrition highlighted the benefits of foods rich in carotene for the arteries. This nutrient is linked to a lower risk of atherosclerosis. It would therefore be a good way to prevent heart disease.
For clarification, atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposit of a plaque essentially composed of lipids (fats) on the walls of the arteries. Eventually, these plaques can cause lesion of the arterial wall (sclerosis), lead to obstruction of the vessel, or even rupture, with the consequences myocardial infarction or stroke.
If atherosclerosis develops with age, lifestyle also contributes (sedentary lifestyle, tobacco, hypertension, etc.). People with bad cholesterol are also at risk.
Foods rich in carotene would be beneficial for the heart of women
It’s no longer a secret : food plays a key role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Carotenes are bioactive compounds found in yellow, orange and green fruits and vegetablessuch as carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, peppers, mangoes, papayas, apricots, loquats and pumpkins.
Carotenes are potentially capable of regulating atherosclerosis, the researchers believe.
The study was conducted on 200 people aged 50 to 70. The volunteers participating in the study were analyzed using two parameters: the concentration of carotenes in the blood and, by ultrasound imaging, the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery.
” The study concludes that the higher the concentration of carotenes in the blood, the lower the atherosclerotic burden, especially in women. […] Thus, we can confirm that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and therefore in carotenes reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. said Chiva Blanch, study author and associate professor and researcher at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Spain.
Carotene: what are the other benefits?
If this study teaches us the benefits of carotene on the heart, we already knew that the vitamin A (beta-carotene) contributes in particular to the normal functioning of the system immune and maintaining a vision normal.
Consumed in sufficient quantity, this nutrient is also the ally of tanned skin. It gives the skin that slightly golden hue often sought after in the summer.
Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, called provitamin A, and is converted into vitamin A via the liver. So, when you eat fruits and vegetables that are high in beta-carotene, you get all the benefits associated with this vitamin.