What are carotenoids and how much should I take?

What are carotenoids?
Carotenoids are the orange, red and yellow pigments that are found in the fruits and vegetables we eat. They are also found in other plants in nature.

Carotenoids are among the most beneficial of the antioxidants and work to balance out the destructive effects of free radicals.

It's important to make sure you get enough antioxidants in your diet because recent research indicates a strong link between free radicals and the risk of disease.

The most important carotenoids include lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein. For more information about these carotenoids and the other important antioxidants, click here.

How much should I take?
According to Dr. Lester Packer, the world's foremost antioxidant research scientist, if a person eats 3 orange and yellow fruits and vegetables per day along with 2 dark green leafy vegetables per day they can most likely get enough carotenoids through their diet alone.

If, however, a person finds they can't eat enough orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables per day, then taking a multi vitamin supplement is the best way to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of carotenoids.

To find out about a high quality carotenoid and antioxidant multi vitamin that we recommend (one that our entire family takes), click here. You can also examine an extensive antioxidant and nutrient content table for this multi vitamin by clicking here.

Why is it important to know the level of carotenoids in your body?
There are many different kinds of antioxidants but carotenoids are important because they are some of the more potent antioxidants, protecting our cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Higher levels of antioxidants in the body may indicate a higher level of cellular protection. The carotenoids are an important part of the body's antioxidant network and carotenoid levels in the tissue (the skin) are an important indicator of the overall strength of the body's antioxidant defense system.

How can I measure the level of carotentoids in my own body?
There is a new technology that now makes it easy for you to discover what the antioxidant levels are in your body.

The device is called the Biophotonic Scanner and in only one minute it can read the antioxidant levels in your body simply by scanning the palm of your hand!

The best part is that the process is completely painless and inexpensive.

Click here to learn more about the Scanner and how you and your family can get tested to discover your own antixoidant levels.