Eating healthy is good for you, you already know this.
Proper nutrition can help with weight loss, prevent lifestyle diseases, and more!
Phytonutrients
One of the best ways to get nutrients is by eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain amazing nutrients called phytochemicals or phytonutrients. These phytonutrients help determine the color, flavor, and scent of fruits and vegetables. They are also the things that make fruits and vegetables good for your body. Phytochemicals can help your body in many ways including:
- Reduced inflammation
- Promote eye health
- Boost your immune system
- Prevent certain disease
- And more
Beta-Cryptoxanthin
A great phytonutrients we recently learned about is beta-cryptoxanthin.
Beta-cryptoxanthin is a phytonutrient in the carotenoid family.
Foods
Beta-cryptoxanthin is commonly found in:
- Butternut squash
- Persimmons
- Hubbard squash
- Hot chili peppers
- Tangerines
- Papaya
- Sweet red peppers
- Rosehips
- Sweet pickles
- Carrots
- Kumquats
- Orange juice
- Sweet corn
- Oranges
It can also be found in other fruits and vegetables that are yellow, orange, and red. Beta-cryptoxanthin can also be found in some animal products like egg yolks and butter.
Benefits
There are several health benefits of beta-cryptoxanthin. It is known to be an antioxidant as well as help cells better communicate with each other. One of the most important things that beta-cryptoxanthin helps with is vitamin A. Vitamin A is critical to many things including:
- Vision
- Immune system
- Reproduction
- Heart
- Lungs
- Kidneys
Ensuring that you consume enough foods with beta-cryptoxanthin to increase levels of vitamin A can help reduce your risk of cancer, age-related macular degeneration, and measles.
Start eating more yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables today!