How Carotenoids Reduce Stress & Improve Your Mood

Yes, you read that right.

What are Carotenoids?

Carotenoids are pigments that produce bright yellow, red, and orange colours in plants, fruits, and vegetables. It is a type of antioxidant for humans. Carotenoids are present in more than 600 plants. Some forms of beta-carotene, when released into the body, can be metabolized into vitamin A.

For instance, the carotenoid pigments give many foods their orange or yellow colours. The human body converts carotenoids to vitamin A, hence its name as provitamin A.

As an antioxidant, carotenoids can protect the cells against damaging substances called free radicals, which are harmful to cells and can lead to various health problems.

In addition to being an antioxidant, carotenoids may affect the body's mood and stress levels.

Will Eating More Carotenoids Improve Your Mood?

So, does that mean that you can improve your mood by taking more carotenoids? Well, according to this research, people who don't get enough carotenoids in their diet are more likely to have higher levels of depression and anxiety. This is a study that includes 17,401 adults aged 18-80 years.

How is that possible? This is because carotenoid is an antioxidant, which can help remove reactive oxygen species and other free radicals found in the brain, thereby protecting it from oxidative damage.

It is also worth noting that most people don't get enough of these nutrients in their diet. Even in developed countries, most people are well fed but suffer from a wide range of nutrient deficiencies.

Therefore, eating more carotenoids is an easy way to improve your mood.

Carrots and Chia Seeds for Stress-Free Living

As mentioned, carotenoid is the pigment that gives fruits and vegetables their yellow, orange, or red colour. The antioxidant properties in these nutrients are what is relevant when it comes to moods. Antioxidants reduce inflammation which can lead to lower depression and anxiety levels. For instance, carrots and chia seeds are both rich in antioxidants that help counter the effects of oxidative stress.

Carrots are a rich source of carotenoids, a pigment that is essential for healthy vision and immune function. They also contain a significant amount of vitamin A, which can help with eye problems such as night blindness.

On the other hand, chia seeds are not just an excellent source of magnesium, but they have been found to be low in calories and high in fibre - making them an excellent food for people who need to lose weight.

Conclusion

Stress is one of the most common triggers for chronic disease. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, depression and many other conditions. The more stress an individual has, the higher their risk of developing these conditions.

Everyone experiences stress differently and there are many different factors that can all contribute to an individual’s level of stress. Our bodies produce the hormone cortisol in response to stress. Chronic levels of cortisol can affect our immune system and lead to poor general health which increases our risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

The best way to combat this is by eating a healthy diet with plenty of whole foods and cutting down on processed and packaged foods.

Yes, carotenoids CAN improve your mood, but it can be a hassle to look for their sources if you have a busy lifestyle. This is why we highly recommend the intake of SUPER LUTEIN, which has six types of carotenoids that can be found in vegetables and fruits. Surprisingly, these six carotenoids take up about 85% of the carotenoids found in the human body.

For more information about SUPER LUTEIN and how it can be helpful for your hectic lifestyle, please click the button below.

Learn more