If you love vegetables, chances are you'll live longer than people who don't. A just released study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that people who consume high levels of the antioxidant alpha-carotene are less likely to die over a 14 year period than those with lower levels of the antioxidant in their blood. Alpha-carotene is similar to beta-carotene found in carrots. The carotenoid is made by plants and microorganisms and works in the body to counteract the effects of oxygen-related damage that's been associated with diseases like cancer and heart disease. You'll find alpha-carotene in yellow and orange colored veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and squash. Dark-green vegetables like broccoli, green beans, green peas, spinach, turnip greens, collards and lettuce are also high in the antioxidant.
The researchers involved in this latest study analyzed the relationship between alpha-carotene and the risk of dying among more than 15-thousand adults ages 20 and older. The risk of death was lower for those who had higher levels of alpha-carotene in their blood. Although more research needs to be done, this is good news for people who are getting their five servings of fruits and vegetables every day and serves as a wake up call for people who need to pile more veggies on their plate.
To read more about the study which will be published in the March 28th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, click on the following link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.440
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