5 Orange Foods To Eat More Of! (Sorry, Cheetos Didn't Make The List!)

Several fruits and vegetables get their bright orange color from a powerful nutrient called beta carotene. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can be converted by the body into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is very important for good health, especially your vision. Because of its antioxidant properties, beta carotene is thought to have powerful anti-cancer properties. It may also help to enhance your immune system and help protect your skin from sun damage. Check out these five beta carotene rich foods and see why else they are good for you!

1) Cantaloupe

In addition to beta carotene, cantaloupe is a great source of the important nutrients vitamin C and potassium. To learn more about why these so good for you check out Why is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important? and Why Potassium Is Important & Which Foods To Get It From!

2) Pumpkin

In addition to being a great source of both beta-carotene and alpha carotene, pumpkin is a low calorie source of fiber, potassium, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C. In SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven Pratt, M.D., pumpkin is called "one of the most nutritionally valuable foods known to man"! If you're interested in trying some delicious new pumpkin recipes, check out this Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie Recipe, Pumpkin Pancake Recipe, or Light Pumpkin Bread From Cooking Light!

3) Carrots

In addition to beta carotene, carrots are a good source of fiber, manganese, niacin, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. 

Fun Fact: Carrots were originally purple, red white, and yellow. The orange carrot was invented by the Dutch by crossbreeding red and yellow carrots in honor of the Dutch royal family. For a few more fun facts about carrots check out 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Carrots!

4. Sweet Potatoes

In addition to beta carotene, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, B6, manganese, potassium, and fiber. Also, sweet potatoes may enhance your memory! According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Rats who ate purple-fleshed sweet potatoes showed significant improvement in cognitive function, which may be attributed to the anthocyanins present in the potato." More studies are needed to determine if this also applies to humans, but those results are certainly promising! 

5. Oranges

In addition to being a great source of vitamin C, oranges contain citrus flavonoids that have numerous potential health benefits. According to SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, "Citrus flavonoids have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, strengthen capillaries, act as anti-inflammatories, and they antiallergenic and antimicrobial. Flavonoid intake is inversely associated with the incidence of heart attack and stroke as well as a host of other ailments."

3 Great Reasons To Eat Carrots!

Besides being delicious, carrots are low in calories, high in nutrition, and good for your health. Well-known naturopath and author of How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine Dr. Michael Murray even calls carrots "the king of the vegetables." Here are just three reasons to feel great about eating carrots!

1. Carrots May Reduce The Risk Of Disease
Carrots are high in carotenoids. Carotenoids are a group of powerful antioxidants including beta-carotene and alpha-carotene and are associated with a wide range of health benefits. High carotene intake has been associated with a lower risk of numerous diseases including cardiovascular disease and various cancers such as lung, stomach, colon, breast, cervix, pancreatic, bladder, esophageal, and prostate.

2. Carrots Are Good For Your Eyes
According to The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, carrots are "a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two other carotenoids that, when working together, have shown enormous promise in protecting the eyes and helping to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts."

3. Carrots Are A Good Source Of Fiber
Fiber is important in keeping your digestive system working smoothly. High fiber intake has also been linked to lower blood cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Carrots!

1. Ancient Greeks called the carrot a philtron, which translates to "love charm."

2. Eating carrot seeds have been thought to prevent pregnancy.

3. Carrots were originally purple, red, white, and yellow. The orange carrot was invented by the Dutch by crossbreeding red and yellow carrots in honor of the Dutch royal family.

4. One cup of raw carrots contains only about 50 calories.

5. The longest carrot on record was nearly 17 feet long!