Category Archives: Carotenoids

Edible Flowers

Flower petals are brightly coloured as the purpose of the petals is to attract insects that can pollinate the plant. The plant uses a variety of phytochemicals to colour its petals and some of these have interesting nutritional properties. Two … Continue reading

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The Colour of Plants

The colour seen in plants has a nutritional significance. The primary reason that plants produce pigments are firstly to attract pollinating insects, and secondly to act as pigments in the photosynthetic process. With regard to the former, perhaps some of … Continue reading

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Antioxidants in Mango Peel

Mango fruits are categorised into different colors based on the peels they possess. In this regard mangos can be red, green, yellow, or a combination of these colours. The colours in the peels of mango, like most fruits and vegetables, … Continue reading

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Carotenoids for Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetes is a disease of blood glucose regulation. The endpoint of diabetes is elevated levels of blood sugar and this can have a damaging long-term effect on various physiological functions. High levels of glucose is problematic in the blood because … Continue reading

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Phytochemistry of White Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

White cabbage (Brassica oleraceae) is a cruciferous vegetable belonging to the same family as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, watercress and cauliflower. Cabbage is a relatively cheap vegetable and is commonly available in large parts of the world, which makes it an … Continue reading

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The Nutritional Content of Brassica Plants

The brassica family of plants are a nutritionally important group of plants that include kale, Brussel sprouts, watercress, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These plants have been evidence to confer beneficial health effects to humans. The plants contain a range of … Continue reading

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The Phytochemicals in Cucurbitaceae Family Vegetables

The Cucurbitaceae family vegetables include the common cucumber that most people are familiar with from supermarkets. However, melons are also part of this family. Both cucumbers and melons are medicinal in nature, and this relates to the phytochemicals they contain. … Continue reading

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Exercise Stress: The Effects of Antioxidants

Antioxidants may have significant benefits to athletes. Exercise is a form of stress, and the detrimental effects of exercise, at least in the short term, may be a significant increase in the generation of free radicals and oxidative stress. This … Continue reading

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Eggs As A Source of Antioxidants

Eggs are a highly nutritious food that are high in protein. In addition, if the chickens that lay the eggs are fed a free range diet, and allowed to forage for food, the eggs can also be a source if … Continue reading

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Microalgae As A Source of Carotenoids

Microalgae are an important source of nutrients. Certain microalgae are commercially available and studies suggest they may possess health benefits when taken as a supplement. Commercially relevant microalgae are the green algae (Chlorophycea) Chlorella vulgaris, Haematococcus pluvialis, Dunaliella salina and … Continue reading

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