Did you know vitamin A is a critical player for eye, skin and bone health? Plant foods containing compounds called carotenoids (beta carotene, lycopene & lutein) are a vegetarian source of vitamin A and are often vibrantly coloured, making them easy to spot in the vegetable aisle! Add our top 5 to your plate this week:
- Carrots have so much beta carotene that a single carrot can contribute towards your daily recommendation for vitamin A. Boil, roast them or snack on them raw – the choice is yours!
- Peppers of all colours contain carotenoid pigments, which are responsible for their bright hues. Mix into salads, roast them whole or enjoy sliced with houmous!
- Squashes like pumpkin and butternut contain beta carotene. Roasting brings out their natural sweet flavour, while blending with onion, garlic and lentils makes for a tasty soup.
- Tomatoes get much of their red colour from the carotenoid lycopene. Fresh tomatoes are delicious and versatile, but tinned are a low-cost alternative, and can be easily made intosauces or added to stews and casseroles. And carotenoids are hiding in greens too!
- Spinach contains a carotenoid called lutein and is present in spinach. Mild in flavour, fresh spinach is ideal for salads and frozen is great added to soup, pasta and more.
(Extracted from the Herbalife Today Magazine Issue 188 Q1)
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