Carotenoid

/ˌkærəˈtenɔɪd/ noun

Definition

A broad class of pigments including carotenes and xanthophylls, found in plants and responsible for red, orange, and yellow colors.

Etymology

From carotene plus -oid (meaning 'resembling'). Created in the 1930s as biochemists realized carotenes were part of a larger pigment family.

Kelly Says

Carotenoids are nature's anti-aging secret—they protect plant cells from sunburn, and when we eat them, they protect our cells too, which is why colorful vegetables are so healthy.

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