| Natural tanning pills usually come in two types. The | | | | in the outermost layer of the skin. It is this side |
| first type contain tyrosine which may fuel the body's | | | | effect property that is used to produce the tanning |
| natural tanning process since tyrosine is the | | | | pills effect. |
| substance that is converted into melanin (the brown | | | | A key difference is that, unlike canthaxanthin, beta |
| skin pigment) in the process of tanning. The second | | | | carotene is said to possess profound health benefits. |
| type is entirely different. These are tanning pills that | | | | Beta carotene helps prevent night blindness |
| contain various pigments that are consumed with the | | | | (increases our ability to percieve visual purple) and |
| hope of being deposited in the skin and imparting a | | | | other eye problems, skin disorders, enhance |
| colour. Namely these nutrients are canthaxanthin and | | | | immunity, protects against toxins, colds, flu, and |
| beta carotene. | | | | infections. It is an antioxidant and protector of the |
| Canthaxanthin is a pigment which is widely distributed | | | | cells while slowing the ageing process. It is a |
| in nature. It was first isolated in edible mushrooms | | | | remarkably safe nutrient and free negative to side |
| however it has also been found in bacteria, | | | | effects. You may want to consider it in summer, if |
| crustaceans and fish such as carp, golden mullet and | | | | your skin is quite fair. |
| seabream. Canthaxanthin is used in farm-raised trout | | | | Beta carotene, like many supplements is not the |
| and is used in combination with astaxanthin for some | | | | same in its natural and synthetic states. Natural beta |
| salmon feeds. | | | | carotene, consisting of two molecule types; synthetic |
| When ingested, canthaxanthin is deposited in the skin | | | | beta carotene contains only one of these. While |
| and imparts a golden orange hue causing some | | | | many of the benefits of beta carotene can be found |
| companies to market tanning pills that contain | | | | in both forms, some of its properties have been |
| canthaxanthin. However, canthaxanthin tanning pills | | | | questioned, such as its antioxidant effect is only |
| have been associated with health problems, including | | | | found in its natural form. Beta carotene deficiencies |
| an eye disorder called canthaxanthin retinopathy (the | | | | sometimes occur in people who do not eat green |
| formation of yellow deposits on the eye's retina). | | | | leafy vegetables. When supplements are used, |
| Clearly such effects have given tanning pills a bad | | | | vitamin E supplementation is also necessary, as beta |
| name. But is there an alternative? | | | | carotene appears to reduce blood levels of vitamin E. |
| Beta carotene is a red-orange pigment abundant in | | | | So next time when planning for your summer |
| plants and fruits. It is a precursor of vitamin A | | | | holidays somewhere in Spain or Italy, try to think |
| (pro-vitamin A) and the most common form of | | | | about these benefits of tanning pills and get some of |
| carotene. The most common side effect of high beta | | | | them for yourself! Make sure though, that you get |
| carotene consumption is carotenodermia, a harmless | | | | the right type so that you will enjoy lovely bronze |
| condition that presents as a conspicuous bronze skin | | | | skin. |
| tint. This arises from the deposition of the carotenoid | | | | |