All about Vitamin A
Learn all about Vitamin A
Elmer V. McCollum and M. Davis discovered vitamin A during 1912–1914. Casimir Funk who discovered vitamins as we know them today came up with the word vitamine which was later changed to vitamin.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which means you don’t need to take it every day because any of the vitamin your body doesn’t need is stored for future use.
Vitamin A is found in both animal and plant foods.
The best food source of vitamin A is liver, however due to the toxic substances liver contains (environmental toxins often build up in the liver of an animal) it is recommended that you only eat it once or twice a month.
Other good sources of vitamin A are:
- Butter
- Whole milk
- Fortified skim milk
- Egg yolk
- Cheese
- Margarine
Watch your consumption of these foods however because except for the margarine they are all high in cholesterol. And all except the fortified skim milk are high in total fat.
You can find vitamin A in natural foods such as oranges and yellow fruits. It can also be found in fats and vegetables, such as spinach. When found in vegetables, vitamin A is water soluble, coming in the form of beta carotene.
The beta carotene form of vitamin A can be eliminated from your body through natural processes, making it not only an excellent way to get vitamin A but also the safest.
Your body requires vitamin A every single day to maintain healthy skin and keep your eyesight healthy. Many people believe carrots provide enough vitamin A to prevent night blindness. In Ancient Egypt doctors use to prescribe liver, which they believed contained enough vitamin A to combat night blindness.
Vitamin A, an antioxidant is ideal for preventing cancer, anti aging and it also helps with your immune system.
If you’re on a fat restricted diet, you may not be getting the right amounts of vitamin A because in order to get the proper absorption you need to consume protein.
A good level of protein is needed to get the proper absorption of vitamin A in your diet. Protein combines with vitamin A to make it stronger, and help it move through your body.
A deficiency in vitamin A is common among people of low-income in the United States. Because children are still growing they are especially vulnerable.
People who eat very low-fat diets, limit their intake of dairy foods, dark green vegetables and liver can become deficient in vitamin A.
Lack of vitamin A will lead to a variety of health issues such as:
- Skin problems
- Increased susceptibility to infections diseases
- Night blindness
And a prolonged deficiency in vitamin A can put you at risk of cancer and you’ll also miss out on the effects it has at battling aging.
You should take about 5,000 international units (IU) of vitamin A daily. You may need to consume more or less depending on your health and your age.
On the other hand, too much vitamin A can be toxic. If you’re consuming too much vitamin A, you’ll put yourself at risk for:
- Joint pain
- Abdomen pain
- Pain in your bones
Although getting too much or not getting enough can cause you serious side effects, vitamin A is very important, and should always be included in your diet.
Vitamin A can be found in many foods, or it can be taken as a supplements. If you’re going to add supplements to your daily diet, you should make sure they provide the correct amount of vitamins and minerals your body need.
evitamins has a wonderful selection of vitamin A supplements, just click on their name to visit their site.
~ To Your Health and Well Being
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