Carrots contain a large amount of β-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A during metabolism in the human body, and vitamin A has a particularly great impact on dark vision.

1. What is β-carotene?

Beta-carotene is one of the carotenoids and an orange-yellow fat-soluble compound. It is unstable when exposed to oxygen, heat, and light, but is relatively stable under weak alkali. Beta-carotene is composed of the active molecule retinaldehyde (the main active component of vitamin A) combined with each other, so it is also called "plant-based vitamin A", also known as provitamin A carotenoids. The main active ingredient of vitamin A, "retinal", is a component of the visual pigment "rhodopsin". Rhodopsin is produced by combining the aldehyde derivative of vitamin A (retinal) with protein. This This binding reaction requires energy and only occurs in the dark, because rhodopsin is easily decomposed when exposed to light. Rhodopsin is very sensitive to weak light, and even a single photon of light can induce its photochemical reaction, leading to its final decomposition into opsin and all-trans retinal. Vitamin A is therefore closely related to our visual performance.

2. What effect does β-carotene have on the eyes?

1． Maintain normal visual function: β-carotene, which can be converted into retinols in the body. Retinol can prevent night blindness, improve vision, maintain strong teeth, promote bone growth, promote growth in children, keep skin moist, ensure normal hair growth, and enhance resistance.

2. Promote rhodopsin to reach normal content: Vitamin A deficiency mainly affects scotopic vision, and rhodopsin is related to scotopic vision. β-Carrot can promote rhodopsin to reach normal content, thereby avoiding the slow adaptation to dark fields caused by lack of vitamin A, and also avoiding the damage to the eyes caused by strong light after dark fields. In addition, it can prevent night blindness, dry eye syndrome, corneal ulcers and corneal softening.

4. Prevent eye presbyopia: β-carotene is an antioxidant with detoxification effect. It is an indispensable nutrient for maintaining human health, and thereby preventing aging and various degenerative diseases caused by aging. .

5. Natural eye drops: β-carotene can keep the cornea smooth and transparent, prevent cataracts, and help protect the fiber part of the eye lens.

3. How to obtain β-carotene from food?

Supplementing beta-carotene is currently the safest way to supplement vitamin A. Direct supplementation of vitamin A can easily cause poisoning. Beta-carotene is the most ubiquitous and stable natural pigment in nature.

Not just carrots, in fact, many natural foods with yellow or orange-red skins contain high levels of β-carotene, such as: green vegetables, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, papaya, Pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, etc. are all rich in beta-carotene.

Generally because β-carotene is insoluble in water, but soluble in oils and fats. Therefore, when we use foods containing beta-carotene, we can use them together with foods containing fat to allow them to be fully absorbed.

So what is the daily intake we need?

If you eat too much carotene-rich food at one time, or take too much in a short period of time, the liver cannot completely decompose it, which will lead to excessive carotene concentration in the blood, and it is easy to appear on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and on the face. The phenomenon of yellowing. But don’t worry, your skin will usually return to normal within a week or two. So just control the amount you eat every day. For example, one or half a carrot a day is enough. Make sure to diversify your vegetable choices.