Vitamin A Benefits

Whilst all vitamins are essential for good health, vitamin A is one of the most important.

In this article we will have a look at some of the health benefits associated with vitamin A.

What Does Vitamin A Do?

Vitamin A helps boost the body’s natural defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria. In addition to this, it also helps to protect the mucous membranes which line the mouth, nose, throat and lungs.

Without vitamin A, these will dry out and won’t be able to function properly.

Vitamin A is therefore a very useful vitamin for treating respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis as it can help to repair damaged mucosal membranes, something which is especially important for those who smoke or have smoked in the past.

In addition to this vitamin A is also very beneficial for promoting general eye health, as it is needed for night vision, colour perception and the prevention of cataracts.

The effects of a lack of vitamin A can be seen in third world countries where millions of children become blind due to a lack of vitamin A.

Vitamin A also plays a role in bone development, and is required by both men and women for fertility and reproduction.

Finally this vitamin helps to promote healthy skin, as it is important for the growth and maintenance of skin in keeping its elasticity.

How Much Vitamin A Do You Need?

The RDA for vitamin A is 700-1300mcg.

Where Do You Get Vitamin A?

The body can get vitamin A directly from the foods that you eat, or indirectly by converting beta-carotene into vitamin A.

Foods that contain beta-carotene usually have a yellow, orange or green colour to them, such as carrots, apricots, sweet potatoes and dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach or kale.

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, which means any food that contains fats or oils may contain vitamin A. A good example is cod liver oil which is a rich natural source of vitamin A.

The fact that people are now eating low fat diets means they might not be getting as much vitamin A as they should do.

Since the absorption of vitamin A is increased by the presence of fats and oils, the vitamin A that they do consume may not be getting absorbed very well.

Who Needs Extra Vitamin A?

People with skin problems such as acne, eczema, scarring, dry skin, burns and people who are taking cholesterol lowering drugs or are on a low fat diet would benefit from taking extra vitamin A.

Signs Of Vitamin A Deficiency

• Night Blindness
• Scaly Skin
• Infections
• Inflamed Mucous Membranes
• Respiratory Problems

Cod Liver Oil

The best form of vitamin A to take is cod liver oil. Cod liver oil used to be given regularly to children but is no longer done so, despite it being one of the healthiest ways to ensure adequate vitamin A levels in the body and promote overall good health.

Vitamin A Overdose Symptoms

Vitamin A is fat soluble, which means it can get stored in body fat. For this reason it is important not to overdose.

Common symptoms of vitamin A overdose include headaches, nausea, peeling/itchy skin and hair loss.

Best Food Sources Of Vitamin A

• Liver
• Sweet Potatoes
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Butter
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Dried Apricots