Carotenes in carrots and other veggies protect the heart

What’s up doc? Though Bugs Bunny’s favorite munchable—carrots—may not keep him safe from Elmer Fudd, they may just keep him from dying of heart disease. In a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Dutch researchers reported that eating foods rich in alpha- and beta-carotene (precursors to vitamin A) lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers followed the diets of 559 men for 15 years and concluded that carotenes in food reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by almost 20 percent. Aside from munching on more fresh and cooked carrots, boost your intake of sweet potato and dark leafy greens such as spinach, collards, and kale, which are naturally high in alpha- and beta-carotene.