Beta-carotene is one of a group of natural chemicals known as carotenes or carotenoids. Carotenes are responsible for the orange color of many fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. Carotene is a provitamin because it can be stored in the liver and converted to vitamin A (a provitamin is a substance that can be converted into a vitamin by animal tissues). Beta-carotene is used for cancer prevention and heart disease, boosting immunity, and infertility. Good sources of beta-carotene include dark green and orange-yellow vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, apricots, and green peppers.
