Why Your Body Needs Beta Carotene - And How To Get It

If you – like us – love the rich color of carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, you have beta carotene to thank. In fact, the word “carotene” is derived from the Latin “carota,” or carrot.

This vital nutrient is also responsible for the bright greens of spinach, kale and swiss chard. This is one of the reasons why these vegetables are so nutritious, and why it’s important to incorporate them into your diet on a daily basis.

But what is beta carotene, and what does it do for your body? We’ll break it down below.

How Beta Carotene Benefits The Body

When you consume beta carotene, your body converts it into vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for maintaining eye and skin health. It may also improve cognitive function and protect against cancer.

• Eye Health: A diet rich in beta carotene wards off eye diseases like macular degeneration, and supports overall eye health.
• Skin Health: Beta carotene protects skin health and protects the skin against UV radiation and sun damage. That doesn’t mean you should skip the sunscreen, though – beta carotene alone isn’t enough to protect your skin from harmful rays.
• Cancer Prevention: Beta carotene is an antioxidant, which helps to ward off certain cancers.
• Cognitive Function: Research has found that beta carotene may help improve memory and cognitive function.

At 18 Chestnuts, we source our vegetables locally, including white and orange carrots grown by local farmers in the North Carolina hills. By using fresh vegetables, we’re working to include even more vital nutrients in every jar of soup we make.

How To Eat More Beta Carotene – And Get The Full Benefits

Because beta carotene is present in so many foods, it’s easy to get more of it every day. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate more of this nutrient into your diet, try our Butternut Squash Pear, Carrot Ginger Dill, or Red Pepper Pomodoro soups!

These nutritious soups are abundant in beta carotene from butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red peppers, carrots and sage, among other ingredients.

You can also try:

• Snacking on baby carrots
• Adding spinach to your smoothie
• Roasting kale chips
• Keeping dried apricots on hand for snacks

Because beta carotene is an oil-soluble nutrient, the body may be able to absorb it more easily when food is cooked, especially if it’s cooked in oil. All of our soups are made with organic extra virgin olive oil, helping to ensure that you get the full benefits of the nutritious ingredients in each.

18 Chestnuts crafts delicious, plant-based soups that deliver on nutrition and flavor. We offer soup subscriptions and one-time orders, as well as soup gift options. Whether you’re too busy to cook, want a nutritious option, have dietary restrictions or want to send soup to someone who needs a comforting meal, 18 Chestnuts is for you!

With a wide range of all-natural soup flavors including Beetroot Apple, Red Pepper Pomodoro, Carrot Ginger Dill, Butternut Squash & Pear, and Asparagus Shiitake, our soup will thrill your tastebuds. All 18 Chestnuts soups are dairy-free, locally sourced and nutrient dense.

Experience health, happiness and joy in every jar. Order your 18 Chestnuts soup today.

Contact your health care provider to discuss your specific nutrient needs.

Source: WebMD, Health Benefits of Beta Carotene