Vitamin A - Vitamins For Healthy Vision
How is your vision? Vitamin A contributes to your overall vision especially in dim light. See how vitamins play a role in the development of healthy bones, teeth, mucous membranes and skin, in maintaining a health immune system and in proper reproduction.
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Vitamin A - What Is It And Where To Find Key Vitamins
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient, unlike vitamin b in its forms B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and C which are water-soluble. You might wonder about this distinction. Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A accumulate in the human body, are stored in body fat or the liver and are retrieved as the body needs them. You may not need to replenish fat-soluble vitamins every day, but you do need to be sure get enough in your diet or through a vitamin supplement. Also, because they are stored, rather than excreted daily, you can take too much over time and cause yourself some problems.
Vitamin A is found in enriched dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, in egg yolks, liver and fish liver oils. If you look at a milk package, your will see that A has been added. Other sources of A are green leafy and yellow vegetables in the form of beta-carotene which is converted into A in the gastro-intestinal system.
Best Use Guideline For Vitamin A
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines recommend that adult men consume at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) each day. For adult females the USDA recommends 800 mg daily. Lactating women need more at least 1,200-1,300 mg daily. Infants need 375 mg. Children aged 1-3 need 400 mg, aged 4-6 need 500 mg and aged 7-10 need 700 mg.
A great preventive health strategy is to recognize the connection between vitamin A and other related health supplement nutrients including milk thistle and omega 3. Taken together on a regular basis, this triad of related nutrients will distribute health benefits across your bones, teeth, mucous membranes and skin. Plus, vitamin A gives a boost to your immune system.
Vitamin A deficiencies are virtually unknown except is parts of Asia where refined white rice forms a major part of the diet or in cases where absorption of A is affected by certain diseases including cystic fibrosis, sprue, liver cirrhosis, giardiasis and pancreatitis. What deficiency symptoms would you look for? Your symptoms would be growth retardation, night blindness, abnormal dryness of the eyes, keratinization of your lungs and increased susceptibility to infections.
You are not likely to see medical professionals recommending a vitamin supplement since A it is so abundant in most people's diet. If you eat dairy products and healthy foods, you probably do not need a supplement. While some fringe vitamin advocates may suggest you need mega-doses of vitamin A, be wary. Remember, this is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the body. The good news is that while high doses can accumulate in the body and cause toxic reactions, recovery from an overdose is rapid once you stop taking A.
You can find vitamin supplements for A, either alone or combined with other nutrients. It is often combined with vitamin D. These supplements are likely to be capsules or liquids. Synthetic A is chemically the same as its natural counterpart and is handled the same way by the body. However, you may care what fat or oil base it comes in. A close look at the package will reveal whether it comes in a base of soybean, fish liver, flax, olive or some other oil.
Any major brand should meet industry standards for purity and potency. Before adding a vitamin supplement to you diet, however, you should ask your medical care provider whether it is in your best interest and to be assured that it poses no health risk for you.
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