From Carrots To Apricots, Phytoene And Carotenoids In These Food Items Helps In Extending Lifespan: Study

You must have come across the term carotenoid. It is a natural pigment found in red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and is responsible for their vibrant hue. Recent studies have found that carotenoid and phytoene might help in extending lifespan. Phytoene is also a type of carotenoid and is colourless. The studies may help in facilitating a healthier ageing process as well as in increasing lifespan. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about these findings.

Phytoene And Carotenoids May Help In Extending Lifespan

According to an article which was recently published by The Times Of India or TOI, the studies were conducted by the universities of Kent and Seville. Carotenoids and phytoene, which are commonly found in carrots and other organically pigmented food items were found to help in extending lifespan.

Looks like Bugs Bunny is going to live for a long time given how many carrots he eats. And no wonder he stays sharp because these ingredients were also found to lessen the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. The research used nematodes or roundworms called Caenorhabditis elegans as model organisms.

Model organisms are non-human species that are used to study specific biological attributes in order to understand them better. The study found that these two commonly found ingredients increased the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by 10 to 18.6 per cent.

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Why Is Caenorhabditis Elegans The Ideal Model Organism?

The reason that these roundworms were selected as model organisms is because their cellular mechanisms bear a striking resemblance to that of humans. Hence, it is likely that these two ingredients will also have a similar impact on humans.

The studies also found that these two ingredients may help in reducing the paralysis that is caused as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have been studying phytoene for a long time. Among other things, it is also thought to be effective in defending against UV radiation.

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How often do you consume these vibrantly coloured fruits and vegetables in your daily life? Let us know in the comments section below!

Cover Image Credits: Canva Images

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