The Vitamin Addict

When people think about vitamins that are good for you, they don’t normally put vitamin A at the top of the list. However, it is more important to the body than you may realize. A little bit of Vitamin A goes a long way towards a healthy body and mind. For example, did you know that vitamin A helps to regulate your immune system? This is very important when it comes to your body’s natural ability to fight off infections and diseases.

So why is Vitamin A so important? Vitamin A is classified as a group of compounds that also affect the following functions in the body:

• Vision
• Cell division
• Cell differentiation
• Reproduction
• Bone growth

Different parts of the body have what is called a surface lining that helps to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering into the body. These include the intestinal and urinary tract, the respiratory system, your eyes and even mucous membranes and your skin can be included. Vitamin A helps to keep these linings healthy so they can perform their job better.

Sources That Provide Vitamin A

So where can you get this important Vitamin A? You can receive vitamin A from both animals and plants so you find it in many foods you eat on a daily basis. When you receive this vitamin from animals it is absorbed into the body in the form of retinol. This type of vitamin A is called “performed vitamin A”. Retinol can be absorbed and used easily by the body. Foods that contain retinol are:

• Whole milk
• Liver
• Whole eggs
• Margarine
• Beef
• Cheese

Some foods contain fortified vitamin A that is used to replace the retinol that is lost when fat is removed from foods such as dried nonfat milk or some fortified cereals. Vitamin A that comes from plants is called “provitamin A carotenoid”. These are found in many fruits and vegetables, especially the dark colored ones. Provitamin A carotenoid is found in foods such as the following:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Cantaloupes
• Carrot juice
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Vegetable soup
• Mango
• Oatmeal

This type of vitamin A is not absorbed into the body as easily as the retinol.

Signs of Vitamin A Deficiency

In the United States it is uncommon for people to suffer from a deficiency of vitamin A, but it is possible. People that suffer from night blindness usually have a vitamin A deficiency. When a person has a serious vitamin A deficiency the retina and cornea of the eyes become dry and damaged and can cause blindness.

It also makes it harder for your body to fight off infection which leaves you more susceptible to viruses and diseases. In children, this type of deficiency can cause their bones to develop slowly which contributes to a decrease in their growth rate. These children will usually suffer from infections more often than is normal, including respiratory infections.

Birth defects have also been associated with vitamin A deficiency. Having an excessive amount of this vitamin has also been linked to birth defects. Considering all the important functions that are affected by vitamin A, it is surprising that it doesn’t get more recognition. Once you understand what vitamin A is all about, you will see the importance of getting it regularly in your diet. Then you can begin to live a healthier life full of the things you love and enjoy!