Scientists Say this Simple Dietary Change Can Improve Skin Health and Boost Immunity

A recent study found that snacking on baby carrots three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoid levels in young adults. These levels rose even more when the carrots were combined with a multivitamin containing beta carotene.

Carotenoids, which give many fruits and vegetables their bright red, orange, and yellow hues, can be measured in the skin to assess fruit and vegetable intake since diet is their sole source. Higher skin carotenoid levels are linked to better antioxidant protection, reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and certain cancers, as well as improved skin health and immune function.

Mary Harper Simmons Highlights Benefits of Baby Carrots for Skin Health

Mary Harper Simmons, a Master of Science in Nutrition student at Samford University, stated, “Previous research has shown that eating three times the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables for three weeks can boost skin carotenoid levels. Our results indicate that a small, straightforward dietary change, such as adding baby carrots as a snack, can significantly enhance skin carotenoid accumulation.”

Simmons shared the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the main annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition, which took place from June 29 to July 2 in Chicago.

Assessing the Impact of Baby Carrots and Multivitamins on Skin Carotenoids

In the study, researchers randomly assigned 60 young adults to one of four groups for a four-week intervention: Granny Smith apple slices (control), 100 grams (about half a cup) of baby carrots, a multivitamin supplement with beta carotene, or a combination of baby carrots and the supplement. They used a noninvasive device called a VeggieMeter to measure carotenoid levels in participants’ skin before and after the intervention.

Results showed that skin carotenoid levels increased by 10.8% in the baby carrot group and by 21.6% in the group receiving both carrots and the supplement, compared to pre-intervention levels. There was no significant change in the control group or in those who received only the supplement.

Simmons stated, “We discovered that combining baby carrots with a multivitamin containing beta carotene can significantly boost skin carotenoid levels.” She advised, “To achieve this benefit, people should select a multivitamin with beta carotene and consume baby carrots at least three times a week.”

Since the multivitamin alone did not increase carotenoid levels, there might be differences in how carotenoids are absorbed from food versus supplements. The researchers plan to investigate the mechanism behind these results and examine the effects of other carotenoid-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes or green leafy vegetables.

Read the original article on: ScitechDaily

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