Your online resource

for all things culinary


 

Home

Search this Site

All Recipes Special Sections Articles &  Resources Kitchenware Information Food & Health Growing Herbs & Veg Directories

Missing an Ingredient ? UKFoodOnline.co.uk

 

  

Beta-Carotene

 

Jump to:-    What is  Beta-Carotene?  | When was Beta-Carotene discovered | What does Beta-Carotene do?  | Good food sources of Beta-Carotene

 

 

Go to:-     5-A-day Vegetables 5-A-day Fruit  |  Food and Health Main Page

Calories  | Carbohydrates  |  Dietary Fibre  | Minerals | Nutritional RequirementsVitamins

 

 

What is Beta-Carotene?

 

Beta-carotene is a molecule which is part of the carotenoid  family of chemicals found in many fruit and vegetables, as well as some animal products such as egg yolks.

 

When was Beta-Carotene discovered

 

Beta-carotene was discovered in 1831 by professor Heinrich Wilhelm Ferdinand Wackenroder who was the first person to isolate the natural orange-yellow pigment in carrots and who named the term 'carotene' however it wasn't until 1919 that Harry Steenbock (1886-1967) suggested that there could be a relationship between beta-carotene and vitamin A.

 

How the Body Uses Beta-Carotene

 

Beta-carotene is also known as provitamin A, because it is one of the most important precursors of vitamin A in the human diet, that is to say its molecules are converted into vitamin A by the body.

 

The breakdown of beta-carotene occurs in the walls of the small intestine. The resulting retinol is stored in the liver.  If you eat more beta-carotene than the body needs, less of it is converted, and the rest is stored, however too much beta-carotene can make you turn yellow.

 

Beta-Carotene also has antioxidant properties which may help in preventing cancer and other diseases.


Good Food Sources for Beta Carotene

 

Beta-carotene can be found in  a variety of foods including yellow fruit and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, sweetcorn, squash, swede (rutabaga) and melons and in some green vegetables such as  kale, spinach and broccoli.

Back to Top

Find UK Holiday Cottages

 
   Sign up for Free Monthly Newsletter

 

Search  |   Sitemap   |   Abbreviations used on this site   |   Printing Recipes  |  About Recipes4us   |   Disclaimer/Private Privacy

 

For ease of reference,  below are direct links to main sections on this site

 

Recipes4us is a lifestyle website featuring food related articles and sections on travel, culture, sport, health, gardening,  home, history and reference covering all aspects  of understanding, preparing and cooking food.

We are confident that there is something for everyone and we are constantly adding new recipes, articles and other food and cooking related material.

Recipes4us is not a medical site. No correspondence can be entered into regarding medical matters.

Side Dishes     Dips and  Dressings  | Jams, Pickles  and  Preserves  | Marinades  |   Pasta &  Rice    |    Side Salads    |  Salsas and Relishes |  Sauces   |   Stuffings   |  Vegetables
 

Desserts &  Puddings  Cold Desserts Hot Puddings |Quick Desserts     
 

Cakes & Bakes     Biscuits, Cookies & Pastries |  Breads & Buns  | Cakes

 

International    Worldwide A to Z  | British  | Chinese  |  Indian

 

Special Diets     Dairy Free  |   Gluten Free   |  Vegan   |  Egg  Free

Soups & Starters    Soups Fish  | Other  | Vegetarian

Main Courses     Barbecues  &  Picnics  |  Beef  & Veal | Casseroles | Fish and Shellfish   |   Lamb  |  Offal   | Pasta,  Rice  and  Pulses  | Pork and BaconPoultry and  Game| Quick Main Courses  Salads    |    Stews   |  Vegetarian
 

 

Online learning for Everyone

Other Recipe Sections     Cooking Videos | Cooking with Alcohol  | Credit Crunch - Economical Recipes Edible Flowers  | Family Recipes  | Food in Film  | Holidays | Ingredients  | Leftovers |  Meals in Minutes |  Party Food and Cocktails  |  Pressure Cooking   |  Slow Food  | Smoothies | Special Days & Holidays | Sport Recipes  | Student Recipes  | Summer Recipes   |  Videos  |  Weekday Menus   |    What's in Season

Reference Pages     5-A-Day Portions  | Cooking Holidays and Schools Conversion Charts  |  Directories  | Farmers Markets |  Food &  Health   |  Food Celebration Days   |  Growing Vegetables  |  Growing Herbs  |  Guide to Kitchenware History of  Food   |   Holidays  |  Ingredients   |  Online Shops   |    Preserving Fresh Produce   |  Special days   |  Sport  |  Student Cooking | Table Settings  | UK Food Shopping Directory | Vegetables-General prep & cooking times  | Videos  | What's in Season

 

Search      About Recipes4us      Links      Contact Us      Advertise/Sponsor        Disclaimer/Private Privacy      Media Resources     Home

 

Custom Search

Click HERE to sign up to our FREE Monthly Newsletter for recent site updates and  food articles

All recipes are published for your convenience and are both suitable and tasty enough to be eaten by anyone without  food  allergies,  as  part of a normal diet. We  advise you to consult a qualified doctor before starting any special diet. If you suffer from and food allergies, always check the ingredients on the label  of pre-prepared products. No correspondence can  be entered into regarding medical matters.

 

This Web Site was designed and created by Recipes4us.co.uk. Copyright © 2000-2009 [Recipes4us] All rights reserved.

 Some Photos ©  www.fotolia.co.uk