Category Archives: Carotenoids

Why Are Plant Foods Good For The Health?

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Observational studies show that those with the highest intake of plant foods are the least likely to suffer from Western lifestyle disease. In this respect plant foods are protective of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and arthritis. Despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Carotenoids, Fibre, Micronutrients, Polyphenols, Trace Minerals, Western Diet | Comments Off on Why Are Plant Foods Good For The Health?

What Should You Do If You Catch A Cold?

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Robert Barrington

It is inevitable that even the most ardent follower of good high quality nutrition will eventually surbumb to the effects of infection and develop a common cold. While good nutrition and health can reduce the risk of contracting a cold … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Herbs, Immune System, Stress, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc | Comments Off on What Should You Do If You Catch A Cold?

When is A Vitamin Not A Vitamin?

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Vitamins are essential organic compounds needed in small amounts for normal metabolic regulation, usually as cofactors to enzymes. They are characterised in their own group because they cannot be synthesised in the body and so must be obtained from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Cholecalciferol, Ergocalciferol, Niacin, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Vitamin K | Comments Off on When is A Vitamin Not A Vitamin?

Plant Foods Prevent Western Disease

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Robert Barrington

With industrialisation has come a shift from traditional diets to the modern Western diet. Traditional diets are those eaten prior to complex food processing, and generally they contain high amounts of unprocessed and unrefined foods that maintain their original nutrient … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Carotene, Antioxidant, Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Coffee, Cryptoxanthin, Fruit, Polyphenols, Tea, Vegetables | Comments Off on Plant Foods Prevent Western Disease

Antioxidant Nutrients and Hearing Loss

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Robert Barrington

The role of antioxidant nutrients in human health is now well established. A number of antioxidants are produced endogenously in humans, the most well known cellular antioxidant being the glutathione system. Cellular levels of glutathione are inversely associated with all … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Glutathione, Hearing, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Antioxidant Nutrients and Hearing Loss

Antioxidant Synergism

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Robert Barrington
Posted in Antioxidant, Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Chalcones, Flavonoids, Glutathione, Glutathione peroxidase, Riboflavin, Selenium, Stilbenes, Terpenes, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin C, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Antioxidant Synergism

Pumpkins

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Halloween is a time when pumpkins become available in the shops and people buy them to carve ornate decorations. However, few consider the nutritional value of the pumpkin during this process. The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is a type of winter … Continue reading →

Posted in Carotenoids, Essential Fatty Acids, Pumpkin Seeds, Winter Squashes, Zinc | Comments Off on Pumpkins

Should We Eat Raw Vegetables?

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Robert Barrington

A high intake of vegetables is associated with improve health outcomes. The exact reason for this is not known, but may relate to the presence of biologically active phytochemicals in plant tissues. Many of these chemicals are secondary metabolites of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brassica, Broccoli, Carotenoids, Flavonoids, Glucosinolates, Lutein, Lycopene, Onions, Quercetin, Terpenes, Vegetables | Comments Off on Should We Eat Raw Vegetables?

A Rainbow of Colours

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The vivid colours in fruits and vegetables are due to the presence of a myriad of plant derived chemicals (phytonutrients) that protect the plant tissues from pests and environmental damage. Many of these chemicals are biologically active in humans, meaning … Continue reading →

Posted in Carotenoids, Flavonoids, Fruit, Stilbenes, Terpenes, Vegetables | Comments Off on A Rainbow of Colours

Antioxidants to Protect the Eyes

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in the elderly, and this is more true in developing nations where surgery for cataracts is less common. Cell culture experiments suggest that oxidative stress plays a role in the formation of cataracts … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Carotenoids, Eggs, Eyes, Lutein, Spinach, Zeaxanthin | Comments Off on Antioxidants to Protect the Eyes