While carotenoids are present in most green plants, they only become visible each fall when chlorophyll gets broken down to save energy for the winter.
This is because carrots don't contain Vitamin A but a carotenoid called beta carotene which is a “provitamin” — a substance that can be converted into a vitamin.
The cardinal's bright red comes from carotenoids, the same pigments that make carrots orange, while the black of its face is from melanin, the pigment that colors our hair and skin.
Those on short-term organic diets do show higher levels of carotenoids, polyphenols, Vitamin C and E, LDL cholesterol, antioxidant activity, immune system markers, and ever higher semen quality.
那些短期内食有机食品的人确实体内含有更多的类胡萝卜素、多酚、维生素 C 和 E、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、抗氧化活性、免疫系统标记,以及更高的液质量。
So, it makes sense that this research from Ohio state found that avocado is a good way to help absorb carotenoids like beta-carotene and convert them to Vitamin A.
So many food chemists use Red Dye Number 40 because it's not only cheaper to make from scratch than it is to extract carotenoids from other food, but the color also lasts longer on the shelf.