No trick, all treat! Halloween “mainstay” SCARES early death away

By the time you’re reading this, kids in your neighborhood may already be out-and-about trick-or-treating…

Or maybe you’re ready to head out with your grandkids for a little Halloween fun.

No doubt you’ll see plenty of costumes and scary decorations along the way.

But there’s one Halloween mainstay you’ll probably see just about everywhere tonight.

And it could help you SCARE away the chance of an early death in the days and months ahead.

There’s nothing that “screams” Halloween like a pumpkin.

But this fall fruit’s uses aren’t limited to ghoulish carvings and home décor. It’s also packed with an antioxidant called alpha-carotene.

Now, you’ve probably heard plenty about beta-carotene, which gets its name from the Latin word for “carrot” …

But alpha-carotene has a hidden benefit.

It can help you live longer!

In one study, folks with the highest blood levels of alpha-carotene showed a 39% lower risk of dying from any cause on average, compared to those with the lowest levels.

That was among a HUGE group of people… more than 15,000 adults… over a long time period of 14 years.

That means some folks in the study OUTLIVED others by a GIANT margin!

And research shows that high alpha-carotene levels are also associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Researchers attribute the life-extending qualities of alpha-carotene to its antioxidant action…

Which may also explain why it’s shown to be helpful in keeping certain types of cancers… especially lung cancer… at bay.

Eating bright, orange foods (like pumpkin, carrots and tangerines) are a great way to boost your alpha-carotene levels.

You’re not likely to find alpha-carotene on its own in supplement form… but look for it as an ingredient in “mixed carotenoids” capsules.

If you go the route of a supplement, be sure to follow the dosage on the product label.

Happy Halloween,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Life Extension. “Longer Life Associated With Higher Alpha Carotene Levels.” https://www.lifeextension.com/newsletter/2010/11/longer-life-associated-with-higher-alpha-carotene-levels

JAMA Network. “Serum α-Carotene Concentrations and Risk of Death Among US Adults.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/226896