If someone is allergic to one of
the ingredients in Carotenoid Complex, would they also be allergic
to Carotenoid Complex as well?
In the development of Carotenoid Complex, a great deal of attention
was given to minimizing allergic potential. Each raw material
was investigated thoroughly to ensure that no frequent food
allergens were contained in the product.
However, it is possible that someone could be allergic to one or more of the food extracts and concentrates that make up Carotenoid Complex (tomato, carrot, spinach, red bell pepper, strawberry, apricot, peach, olive.) It is virtually impossible to develop a product that someone, somewhere isn't allergic to. Nevertheless, we feel that our efforts to minimize potential allergic reactions have been quite successful. We have already sold tens of millions of capsules, and only a small handful of consumers have experienced what appear to be allergy-related effects.
It is important to realize that Carotenoid Complex offers such important long-term health benefits that everyone who is not eating a minimum of five servings of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables every day should be using it and even those with allergies to some of the ingredients should at least try it. It is likely that they will not have any reaction. We recommend that these people should start slowly by trying one capsule. If there is no reaction, then proceed to the label recommended dosage.
Everyone is unique with regard to whether or not theyll have an allergic reaction to a natural substance. We have Carotenoid Complex customers, for example, who have had no reaction despite their allergy to strawberries. This is attributable to the fact that we use high quality oleoresins (lipid extracts) and very few people are allergic to such.
Why is there beeswax in Carotenoid
Complex? If someone is allergic to honey, can they still consume
Carotenoid Complex?
Carotenoid Complex contains beeswax to enhance the consistency
of the whole food ingredients used in this product. Additionally,
there is no honey in Carotenoid Complex; it has been completely
removed from the beeswax.
What is the total carotenoid
profile of Carotenoid Complex?
Carotenoid Complex contains 15 powerful carotenoid family members.
Our unique formula has been tested and shown to deliver alpha-,
beta-, cis-beta-, gamma-, and zeta-carotene, lycopene, cis-lycopene,
lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha- and beta-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin,
canthaxanthin, capsanthin, and cryptocapsin.
Why do I need a carotenoid
supplement?
If you don't eat the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits
and vegetables every day, chances are you are not getting the
recommended amount of carotenoids in your daily diet. Most people
only get 2-3 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and most
of the top ten fruits and vegetables are poor sources of carotenoids.
Plus, even those that do eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables every day are not getting the amount of carotenoids found in a serving of Carotenoid Complex.
What is the difference between killer
T-cells and natural killer cells? Which is cited in the USDA
study using Carotenoid Complex?
In the Carotenoid Complex study conducted by researchers from
the USDA, natural killer cells and lymphocyte proliferation
(or T-cell proliferation) were the two measures used to gauge
changes in subjects' immune potential. Lymphocyte proliferation
response is how quickly, and many, lympocytes (T-cells) are
produced once an invader is detected. Think of it as an army
responding to attack. The amount of soldiers you
get to the point of attack is prolific response.
T-cell proliferation is a measure of immune response effectiveness. T-cells coordinate immune defense and kill invaders on contact. Once the T-cells recognize an antigen, they are activated and rapidly multiply. They release lymphokines, which in turn activate more T-cells and B cells and direct them to the battle.
Natural killer (NK) cells are a specialized type of immune cell found in the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow and blood that destroy abnormal cells such as virally infected cells, cancer cells and tumor cells. The NK cells do not proliferate in response to an antigen, as do the T-cells, nor are they increased by immunization. Natural killer cells are the first line of defense against cancer!
What coloring is used in Carotenoid
Complex?
Carotenoid Complex contains a unique and hearty mix of carotenoid-rich
extracts and concentrates from colorful fruits and vegetables,
which contribute to the capsule's color. Additionally, the carotenoid
annatto from small, dark-red seed of the annatto tree (Bixa
orellanna tree) gives the capsule's shell its rich, dark,
natural color.
Isn't it less expensive to eat whole
foods?
If you compare the cost and time involved in traveling to the
supermarket, purchasing food, and the preparation involved,
the cost of Carotenoid Complex is inexpensive. Of course, we
urge everyone to eat the recommended servings of fruits and
vegetables every day. But, for those who don't, supplements
can help you to bridge the gap between what you eat and what
you really should eat.
Can I get enough carotenoids from my
diet alone?
If you want the best antioxidant protection for your body, it
would be extremely difficult to eat enough fruits and vegetables.
GNLD stresses that it is vital that you consume a diet that
is rich in fruits and vegetables, but we also know that most
of the fruits and vegetables that we do eat, like bananas and
potatoes, are not good sources of carotenoids. In addition,
the bioavailability of carotenoids in uncooked fruits and vegetables
is extremely poor. Raw carrots are only about 5-10% bioavailable
in their carotenoid content. In comparison, the carotenoids
in Carotenoid Complex are up to 95% bioavailable.
How is Carotenoid Complex different
than dunaliella salina?
When you compare dunaliella salina supplements against Carotenoid
Complex, dunaliella salina always come up short! Dunaliella
salina, sourced from algae, is not normally in the human food
chain, and delivers the carotenoids found only in that one source.
On the other hand, GNLDs Carotenoid Complex is a far superior carotenoid supplement than a pure dunaliella salina product for three main reasons. First, Carotenoid Complex delivers an exclusive blend of carotenoid-rich extracts and concentrates from tomatoes, carrots, spinach, red bell pepper, strawberries, apricots and peaches, foods in the human food chain. Secondly, each capsule provides the phytonutrient value of an optimal serving of a wide variety of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables. In fact, a three capsule serving delivers 1/3 of the amount of the recommended dietary intake of 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day! Lastly, Carotenoid Complex has been tested by USDA researchers and shown to:
Boost immune cells 37% in just 20 days.
Curb oxidation damage to cells by 44%.
Increase natural killer cells by 20%. (Natural killer cells are our first line of defense against cancer.)
Help protect against heart disease.
With those kinds of advantages, Carotenoid Complex is the smarter choice for carotenoid supplementation, hands down!
Are GMOs present in any of the fruits
and vegetables used in Carotenoid Complex?
GMOs, or genetically modified organisms caught our attention
way back in the 1980s. As we delved into the science and
technology that was developing behind the scenes we quickly
came to the conclusion that genetic manipulation of lifes
blueprint DNA was a very risky enterprise. It was not without
its promise, but it was truly a doubled edged sword with
the potential for both dramatic benefit and catastrophic risk.
On the one hand it offers the opportunity to feed the
starving masses by creating new forms of certain crop
plants that would grow where they previously wouldn't, or produce
hugely greater yields, or provide previously missing nutrients
deficient in certain populations. On the other hand it held
the potential to create virulent monster plants
or animals that would displace their weaker natural
cousins, reek havoc on the local flora and fauna where they
are planted or farmed and ultimately force the natural form
into extinction.
Of particular concern to the SAB was the idea of transgenic modification of DNA. This is the process of mixing genetic material not just from different species, but from different life forms. Plants were being given genes not just from other plants, but from bacteria, insects and animals. And the reverse was true. DNA was being mixed and manipulated in a way that was absolutely contradictory to the rules of nature and the separation of life forms and species.
It didnt take us long to recognize that this was not something we wanted in our products. Thus, years ago we made the decisions that would make sure that would not occur. We set new raw material standards that demanded all ingredients of plant or animal origin be free from genetic modification. We demanded that our suppliers confirm that the materials they provided us complied with that standard. And then we established the means to confirm that was so.
Today, you can confidently use GNLD products, including Carotenoid Complex, and know that they do not contain any genetically modified DNA, of any form or source. That all of the genetic materials they contain are the natural genetic materials Nature put there.
What is the olive oil in Carotenoid
Complex for?
Carotenoid Complex's unique formula has been specifically designed
to maximize carotenoid absorption; in fact, the carotenoids
in Carotenoid Complex are more readily absorbed than they would
be in most foods. One of the ways GNLD Carotenoid Complex maximizes
carotenoid absorption is to use olive oil, a monounsaturated
fatty acid, as a carrier. Olive oil is one of the most readily
digestible oils available, and carotenoids are best absorbed
when partnered with olive oil.
What is the size of an optimal
serving of fruits and vegetables? How was this size established?
Is the serving size comparable to those listed in the Daily
Food Guides?
As serving size is generally assumed to be 100 grams or approximately
3-1/2 ounces. To give another perspective, a serving is about
a 4-5 inch plateful of fruits and veggies. This is the approach
used by the USDA, and it is the basic measure we used in our
calculations as well.
Which fruits and vegetables
make up the optimal serving you are comparing your capsules
to?
In order to determine the make-up of an "optimal serving"
of fruits and vegetables containing carotenoids we first analyzed
the overall consumption of fruits and vegetables across the
United States, using data developed by the USDA. We singled
out those fruits and vegetables that made the largest contribution
of carotenoids to the average American diet: carrots, tomatoes,
cantaloupe, spinach, orange juice, sweet potatoes, peaches,
red bell peppers, broccoli, pumpkin, acorn squash, tangerine
juice, pink grapefruit, apricots and strawberries. That group
of food sources provided us with a profile for all the carotenoids
we were investigating. The result is that each Carotenoid Complex
capsule provides a match to that carotenoid profile of the mix
of fruits and vegetables which are particularly rich in carotenoids
and which represent an optimal serving of carotenoid rich foods.
Do I need to stop taking
other antioxidant supplements if I use Carotenoid Complex?
Carotenoid Complex provides powerful antioxidant protection,
but the need to supplement with other antioxidants remains.
You should continue supplementing with GNLD's Flavonoid Complex,
vitamin E and vitamin C.
Are there pesticides in Carotenoid
Complex?
There are no pesticides in any of our products, including Carotenoid
Complex. Our stringent Quality Control procedures guarantee
that our products are pesticide-and contamination-free. Our
testing protocols follow the American Organization of Analytical
Chemists. The pesticide screen is conducted routinely by outside
laboratories to confirm that our products are pesticide-free.
Some people may be concerned about
the amount of provitamin A that is in Carotenoid Complex because
of the toxicity issue surrounding vitamin A. Can we assure these
people this does not apply to provitamin A?
GNLD's Carotenoid Complex provides a variety of carotenoid "family
members" as they naturally occur in human food chain fruits
and vegetables. Not all of these carotenoids provide provitamin
A activity. However, there is no need to fear those that do,
as provitamin A is only a precursor to vitamin A, and not vitamin
A itself. This means that provitamin A is converted by the body
to vitamin A only as needed. If the body has an adequate supply
of vitamin A, provitamin A will not be converted by the body
to vitamin A, therefore there is no toxicity associated with
provitamin A at any level.
Is it safe?
Carotenoid Complex is as safe as eating a serving of fresh fruits
and vegetables. It is 100% natural and contains no artificial
preservatives or sweeteners, plus it's 100% pesticide-free.
How does Carotenoid
Complex compare to other "carotenoid" supplements?
There really is no comparison! Carotenoid Complex is so unique,
it's patented. It is the only completely whole-food sourced
carotenoid supplement on the market. Other products use a combination
of synthetic beta-carotene and/or carotenoids from non-food
sources such as marigolds and algae. Carotenoid Complex is based
on "Nature's Blueprint" and provides carotenoids from
sources that are part of the human food chain, just as nature
intended you to have them.
What studies have been done on Carotenoid
Complex?
There have been several studies done on Carotenoid Complex.