Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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As as endurance athlete, I eat a lot of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkin, and other squashes. Recently I've been told that I'm looking "orange"- like I fake tan look to me.

Is this from eating a lot of orange foods? Or is this in conjunction with perhaps a lack of another nutrient?

Is this bad and has anyone else had any experience with this??

flag	asked Jan 15 2012 at 7:06 Chuck Feerless 251●2●9

Moonablaze · Answer 1 · 2012-01-15 07:33:42Z UTC

this is totally possible and well documented. Called carotenemia, it is usually associated with carrots but sweet potatoes and squashes also contain plenty of the orange/yellow-creating pigment beta-carotene. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotenosis

It seems there have never been documented vitamin A overdoses from beta-carotene foods (the body just stops converting the stuff) but I'd double check your multivitamins and make sure you're not overdoing it from that aspect, as vitamin-A overdose is serious.

As long as you don't mind being orange, I can't find anything that says there are any adverse effects to the yellow/orange skin effect.

cerement · Answer 2 · 2012-01-15 07:36:35Z UTC

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Stereotypically, too much vitamin A - if you're getting it from veggies as beta-carotene, you don't have to worry (other than looking like a Jersey Shore cast member) - if you're taking vitamin A supplements or Accutane (an acne medication), that's another matter, and could be early vitamin A toxicity.

answered Jan 15 2012 at 7:36

cerement
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GTL --> GSPL My friends have said this also...and its no wonder since i eat 2.5-3 pounds of sweet potatoes after every workout, which is every other day. – Antti Jan 15 2012 at 13:28

cliff · Answer 3 · 2012-01-15 13:30:07Z UTC

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If you notice orange around your hands from eating the sweet potatoes you might be hypothyroid. Carotene is highly unsaturated and can be anti thyroid consumed in large amounts especially if you can't convert it.

answered Jan 15 2012 at 13:30

cliff
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	Interesting. Can you point us to some sources for more info on this. – Alex Jan 15 2012 at 14:08
	www.Raypeat.com – cliff Jan 15 2012 at 14:49

Bread-Eating Beelzebub · Answer 4 · 2012-01-15 08:01:49Z UTC

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Isn't that supposed to be attractive? http://evolvify.com/is-tanning-even-attractive/

answered Jan 15 2012 at 8:01

Bread-Eating Beelzebub
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	Yup, this is what I was going to post. – Carly Jan 15 2012 at 10:49
	I don't find this attractive at all. It's especially strange if all the other folks around you are pale. – Paul Jan 15 2012 at 15:16
	The problem is is that a decent tan is not orange and, if it's properly taken care of (coconut oil on the inside and the outside), it never becomes stretched and leathery - just look at South Pacific islanders ... – cerement Jan 15 2012 at 18:58
	um, i thought putting oils on the skin accelerated the leathery look? (basically frying your skin to a crisp)... – Domtx008 May 30 at 17:07

Steve Parker MD · Answer 5 · 2012-01-15 12:20:18Z UTC

Hepatitis and/or cirrhosis are always possible explanations for orange or yellow skin. Diagnosed with blood tests.

-Steve

Disclaimer: All matters regarding your health require supervision by a personal physician or other appropriate health professional familiar with your current health status. Always consult your personal physician before making any dietary or exercise changes.

rammer · Answer 6 · 2012-01-15 09:37:07Z UTC

Hmmm, might want to back off on the carotene consumption. Beta Carotene can generate oxidative stress via Carotene cleavage products (CCPs), which may impair mitochondrial function.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12154001 http://www.fasebj.org/content/early/2002/08/02/fj.01-0765fje.full.pdf

animalcule · Answer 7 · 2012-01-15 11:58:27Z UTC

While I've always been more sallow than pasty white, I've still always been a pale blue-eyed blonde. I noticed I had much tanner skin soon after I started paleo (even on areas that never see the sun), and I also tan more easily and darker when I do get some sun. It's mostly noticeable in pictures with my pale friends, and was brought home to me recently when my sister and her fiance visited me, and I realized my skin tone and color was closer to his than hers (he is half black and light-skinned, we are English/Scottish - but she is so white!)

And I don't eat many orange foods or supp. retinol, though I get a lot in my diet. Not sure what's going on but I feel great.

I’m turning orange

7 Answers