Just as with cancer is with heart disease: people who eat beta-carotene-rich foods definitely have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. One of the main studies of women, for example, shows that those who eat more beta-carotene foods reduce the risk of heart attack by 22 percent compared to those who take small amounts. In addition, people who supply themselves with a lot of beta-carotene with food are even better when it comes to stroke - they get it 40 percent less. A study of older people shows that the higher the intake of beta-carotene from food, the lower the risk of getting a heart attack. But taking beta-carotene supplements does not give you the same protection. In the physical health study, for example, people who take beta-carotene supplements do not have a lower risk of heart disease than those who do not take them. What does that tell us? You need all the carotenoids, not just beta-carotene. And the best way to get them is to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. If you want to take supplements, take mixed carotenoids. Source: "Vitamin A" - by Dr. Alan Pressman and Sheila Buff
