Vitamin A plays a significant role in the maintenance of a healthy visual system and strong immune mechanism. The initial discovery of vitamin A was made in 1913, when the researchers found that animals that were fed a diet deficient in natural fats developed weak immune systems and inflamed eyes.
What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. In fact, it was the foremost fat-soluble vitamin to be discovered. The RDA or recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A is 5000 I.U.
Sources of Vitamin A: Vitamin A Foods
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| Carrots are a excellent source of Vitamin A |
The most concentrated sources of vitamin A (preformed) are: whole milk and liver. Excellent sources of vitamin A (pro-vitamin carotenes, which are converted to vitamin A) are: dark green leafy vegetables, mangoes, papayas, broccoli, apricot, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, melons, and squashes.
Vitamin A benefits: What is Vitamin A Good For?
- Eyes: Vitamin A is very essential to maintain good eye health. Adequate intake of vitamin A rich foods will ward off night blindness, poor dark adaptation and age related eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataract.
- Skin: Vitamin A is necessary for healthy skin. It maintains the health and the structure of the skin. A host of skin ailments, psoriasis, eczema, acne, etc., are responsive to vitamin A supplementation.
- Immune system: Healthy immune and defense mechanisms are dependent on vitamin A as well. Vitamin A fortifies and reinforces your immune system and staves off infections effectively, making you less susceptible to them.
- Hormone synthesis: Vitamin A is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormones and adrenal hormones.
- Cellular growth: It also plays an important role in cell growth.
Vitamin A is One of The Most Important Anti Oxidant Vitamins
Vitamin A has been touted as an important anti oxidant. It promises to fight free radical damage successfully. Exposure to free radicals (pollution, chemicals, refined foods, etc.) can cause cancer. Vitamin A prevents free radical oxidative damage to the DNA of the cells and thus checks the development of cancer.
Being a potent anti oxidant, vitamin A can also halt the onslaught of ageing; and appreciably decelerate its progress.
Vitamin A Oil
Vitamin A oil is recommended by innumerable health experts. It is an excellent supplementation and promises to boost your immune system functioning and also give you a radiant complexion.
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| Cod Liver Oil is the best source of Vitamin A |
Cod liver oil is the best source of vitamin A; add 1 spoon of cod liver oil to your daily smoothie, it will yield immense health benefits.
The oil exerts profound skin care and cosmetic benefits as well. Vitamin A oil when massaged in to the skin improves the skin cells’ turnover, makes your skin look healthy and eliminates scars, blemishes and lesions successfully.
Vitamin A capsules
Vitamin A capsules / supplements are advised in cases of severe deficiency or when sufficient intake of vitamin A rich foods is not possible. However, it is advisable to consult a health care practitioner before starting supplements. Toxicity due to vitamin A has been reported in individuals who take excessive doses of the vitamin for many months.