Beta-carotene is a carotene found in spinach leaves that is yellow-orange. Spinach leaves also contain xanthophyll, a yellow carotenoid. Other fruits and vegetables with higher levels of carotenes and xanthophylls, like carrots, peppers, yams and oranges, are yellow, red or orange.

Is there xanthophyll in spinach?

Spinach leaves contain a number of natural products such as carotenes, chlorophylls, xanthophylls, soluble vitamins, etc. Spinach leaves present β-carotene and chlorophyll, these being primarly responsible for the leaf color, together with minor amounts of xanthophyll components.

What foods contain xanthophyll?

Dietary sources of xanthophylls include lutein and zeaxanthin in green leafy vegetables and corn, and β-cryptoxanthin in pumpkins, papayas, and peppers. The minor xanthophylls astaxanthin and canthaxanthin are found in certain fish and seashells, and in certain mushrooms (2).