Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that is bioavailable in two forms: retinol and beta-carotene.
It is found abundantly in plant and animal foods.
Vitamin A does the following –
- Supports healthy ski
- Prevents night blindness
- Prevents infection
- Fights of infection by destroying harmful bacteria and viruses
- Destroys free radicals that can cause Cancer
A deficiency of Vitamin A can cause Xerophthalmia, a severe disease that can damage the eye that leads to blindness. A mild deficiency causes dryness of the eye.
A deficiency of Vitamin A is considered serious in children.
To maintain health keep your doses of vitamin A supplementation to 5,000 IU (1,000 RE) for men and 2,500 IU (500 RE) for women. A more extreme dose of up to 50,000 IU (10,000 RE) for one or two days only to treat a viral infection can be indicated. Pregnant women should use alternatives such as beta-carotene.
It is absolutely possible to overdose on Vitamin A. Taking too much can result in liver problems, nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
Food sources of vitamin A can include milk, eggs, cheese, cooked liver, and carrots.
Vitamin A is often found in skin creams as it can play an important role in preventing and curing acne, stretch marks, and other skin problems. You can buy it as an ingredient in body and facial creams and lotions.
Did you know that –
- Eating carrots really do prevent night blindness because they contain so much Vitamin A?
- Without any Vitamin A your eyes harden, dry up and you will go blind.
- Research has proven that if you have lung cancer taking beta-carotene can increase your chance of dying by 46%
- It is true that if you take too much Vitamin A in the form of carotene that your skin WILL turn orange.
Egg yolks contain one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin A.
