Carotenemia

Question: What is the daily dosage of Beta-Carotene that will result in carotenemia?

Answer: Several years ago the "safe" amount stated was under 50,000 IUs. I don't know what they are recommending today. The FDA gets involved and then, according to them, because one person goes crazy and takes a humongous amount of a supplement, they say that supplement is dangerous. (Yes, and if I mis-use a knife, it is dangerous too.) That being said, I've taken vitamin A all of my adult life--usually 10,000 to 25,000 IU. If I don't, I can't see well at night and I start getting aches and pains. When I was sick with upper respiratory infections I would take up to 50,000 IU 3 times a day. It helps the body fight infection. Both of my Grandmothers lived their lives taking at least a tablespoon of cod liver oil (vitamin A) a day. They bought the big bottles of it and spooned it out. They both lived healthy long lives. The link below states that cartenemia is not dangerous--it just looks funny. This is what I've always understood. That being said, I think everyone synthesizes vitamin A (beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in our bodies) at a different rate, therefore what is "too much" for one person doesn't bother another person. So what you can do is start off with a little amount (10,000 IU) and work up slowly, very slowly--knowing that it will take your body a little while to respond.

Question: My 1 yr old has a yellow nose in pics. I read that it could be Carotenemia? Anyone with experience? I know that the sites tell you that it's just an overabundance of carotene (carrots/sweet poatoes and stuff like that) and that it's harmless, but have any moms or dads seen this in their own children? What did you do about it, and how long did it take for the discoloration to clear up? As she gets older, it just seems to get worse...

Answer: When my son had this condition, he was orange all over, not just in one place. His favorite foods at the time were strained carrots and squash, both of which are high in beta carotene. Our pediatrician recommended diversifying his diet more, which we did, and the coloration went away within a few weeks. If you're not sure, ask your pediatrician about it at your next visit. There were never any lasting effects once the skin discoloration cleared up. (He's 23 now!)

Question: What is the true basis for categorizing foods as junk foods? You see, I'm quite curious what are the things that classify foods as junk foods. I have something in thought. All foods are bad for the health once taken too much, even junk foods. For example, eating too much carrots in a period of time may cause carotenemia/carotenimia. So, can't we consider all foods as junk?

Answer: Junk foods are the ones that are the least valuable to you.

Question: i want a study about the rlation between the prconceptional fertilit and carotenemia?

Answer: spelling ? what exactly are you asking

Question: I have been having really odd bowel movements the past week. help!? i noticed that after i ate about 40 baby carrots over the course of a day, that my stomach was extremely upset and i had diarrhea. it has continued for about a week, with the same strange looking diarrhea, but not a very upset stomach until today. im not sure if it has anything to do with the carrots because, although i did have quite a few the first day i experienced the abnormalities, i was eating between 15 and 20 baby carrots every day prior. plus, i dont think they could still be in my system for a week. my skin isnt orange, so im not worried about carotenemia. maybe my body is having a tough time processing the fiber? help?!

Answer: Maybe some kind of food poisoning b/c the carrots weren't washed right? I dunno. That's not normal though. I doubt it's related directly to the carrots.. probably something lurking ON the carrots instead