Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is best known for
its positive effects on helping the eyes adjust to changes
in the light. Vitamin A contributes to the overall health
of the eyes, the skin and the mucous membranes. This
particular vitamin, which is also commonly referred to as
Retinol, can be mostly found in animal food sources, but
there are also a number of plant based food sources that
supply beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A
within the body. Vitamin A is also generally regarded as an
excellent antioxidant, which means that it is responsible
for neutralizing the free radicals within the body that
cause damage to cells and tissue.
It has been suggested by scientific studies in the past
that beta carotene and Vitamin A can help people who have
Coronary Artery Disease or CAD. However, it is not
recommended that beta carotene or Vitamin A supplements be
taken for this purpose yet, until more scientific research
can be conducted. It is already known that Vitamin A and
beta carotene have a positive effect on the body, though it
is not yet known what exactly Vitamin A can do for the
body, especially when it comes to Coronary Artery Disease
or CAD.
Vitamins are most commonly categorized based on what
materials they can be dissolved in, and for that reason,
Vitamin A is categorized as a fat soluble vitamin. Other
fat soluble vitamins include vitamins D, E and K. The
alternative is vitamins that are water soluble. Fat soluble
vitamins are stored within the fat tissue in the body, and
they can be stored from as little as a few days until as
many as six months. If you ingest too much of a fat soluble
vitamin, it can be stored in the wrong place such as your
liver, which can cause problems in your body. Fat soluble
vitamins should never be taken in large doses, as this can
lead to toxicity issues.
There are actually a number of health problems that make it
difficult for people to absorb vitamins like Vitamin A. It
is important to know how vitamin absorption will be
affected by chronic health conditions. It is also important
to know how much Vitamin A you need to consume for your
optimum health. It is generally recommended that women
consume around 800 mcg of Vitamin A, and that men consume
1000 mcg of Vitamin A daily for optimum health. Luckily,
there are a number of sources of Vitamin A available,
including beef liver, cheddar cheese, fortified milk, egg
yolk, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, apricots,
cantaloupe and spinach or other collared greens.
Vitamin A deficiencies are not all too common in the United
States, but when this vitamin deficiency does occur, it can
cause night blindness, inflammation of the eyes, diarrhea
and a variety of other problems. Over consuming vitamin A
on the other hand can cause problems relating to
irritability, nausea, blurred vision and many other issues.
Someone who takes too much vitamin A can have their feet
and hands turn orange. Serious Vitamin A toxicity can cause
hair loss, an enlarged spleen and liver, and even growth
retardation in severe forms. For this very reason, it is
important for you to understand how much vitamin A you are
getting in your diet. If you are getting enough vitamin A
and beta carotene in your food products, there is no need
to take a vitamin supplement.
If you want to get the most amounts of vitamins possible
from your foods, then you should immediately refrigerate
your fresh produce products, and should keep milk and grain
products out of strong amounts of light. The vitamins in
your foods are easily washed out or destroyed during the
food preparation and storage processes. If you are taking
your vitamin A in the form of a supplement, you should make
sure to store them in a cool and dry place that has no
excess moisture.
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Ron Godlewski has written many articles on health,
wellness, and maintaining vitality throughout our lifetime.
Read more about the importance of nutrition and the many
benefits of vitamins in our daily diets in the article
library at
http://www.pillfreesupplements.com/vitamins-minerals-article
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