Colorful Veggies

Another reason to eat your green and orange veggies: the antioxidant alpha-carotene, not found in vitamins, is linked with longer life.
To help ensure your chances of living a long and healthy life, include plenty of dark green and orange vegetables in your diet. These veggies are brimming with alpha-carotene, a type of antioxidant in the carotenoid family, that’s been linked to a lower risk of dying from heart disease and cancer.
Other carotenoids include lycopene and beta-carotene. Carotenoids help ward off DNA damage that can accelerate aging and lead to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. Alpha-carotene may be particularly adept at fending off the growth of cancer cells in the brain, liver and skin. Plus, they’re not usually found in supplements, so the only way to get them is through a diet rich in vegetables.
Some of the best sources of alpha-carotene are pumpkin, carrots, frozen mixed vegetables and winter squash. You can also get them in smaller amounts from vegetable juice, pea soup, and dark leafy greens.