Health Alert 84
Is your multivitamin really protecting your body from disease? Or is your multivitamin shortchanging your health?
You know that taking a multivitamin can cut your risk of developing disease, give you more energy, and keep you fit. But high amounts of vitamin A in your multivitamin could be hindering the action of related, but more important nutrients. We collectively call these nutrients carotenoids.
There are hundreds of carotenoids. They are in fruits and vegetables. Plants use them to produce energy and provide color. Carotenoids also play a special role in your health. They destroy free radicals that age and damage your cells.
Common Carotenoids
Alphacarotene
Betacarotene
Cryptoxanthin
Lutein
Lycopene
Zeaxanthin
The most popular carotenoid is betacarotene. Betacarotene is a potent free radical fighter, but we can’t overlook more powerful carotenoids. Lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, and alphacarotene are specialized free radical fighters, and important nutrients.
But many manufacturers overlook these benefits. Most multivitamins contain only Vitamin A or betacarotene. Mixed carotenoids are many times more potent than Vitamin A alone. Each has a specialized job. Together, they form the ultimate protection for the body.
• Manufacturer Oversight *
Many commercial vitamins overlook the importance of carotenoids in a mix. If you ate a fruit or vegetable, you would be getting many carotenoids together. This is the way they are naturally. They provide the most benefit taken together. Some of these health benefits include:
• Preventing night blindness
• Destroying free radicals
• Lowering the risk of macular degeneration
• Decreasing the risks cancer
• Keeping skin healthy
Look at the label of your multivitamin. The best should say “mixed carotenoids” or list carotenoids separately.
Don’t forget that the best carotenoids are in fruits and vegetables. More colorful fruits and veggies usually have more carotenoids. Eat a variety of colors every day. Eggplant, peaches, apricots, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and guava are my favorite high carotenoid sources.
Al Sears MD