Carrots Help Beat Skin Cancer

Eating carrots may help protect against skin cancer, research has found.

The Journal of Nutrition reports research that finds consuming carotenoids (anti-oxidants) can help reduce the ultraviolet rays absorbed by the skin.

Carotenoids are found in a variety of vegetables, especially carrots, and give them their orange and red colouring.

When people eat vegetables containing carotenoids they are absorbed into the skin and can give fair-skinned people a slightly yellow skin tone.

Research has found people with a darker skin colour have a lower incidence of skin cancer than fair-skinned people.

New research reported in The Journal of Nutrition shows fair-skinned people can derive a similar but reduced type of protections from consuming carotenoids.

Carotenoids build up in the skin, adding to protection.

Daily Telegraph, 5 June