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Benefits of Vitamin AThere are many benefits of Vitamin A. It helps form and maintain healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes that provides a barrier to bacteria and viruses. It helps with bone growth, tooth development, reproduction, and cell division. It helps shed off excess skin cells, prevent eye problems such as night blindness, enhances immunity, protects against pollution and cancer formation. It assists in the utilization of protein. It protects Omega 3s and other essential fatty acids in the body. It is also an antioxidant which helps to protect the cells from free radicals that contribute to cancer and heart disease. Vitamin A comes in several forms. Retinol which is found in plant and animal sources. It is the same Retinol that is found in acne creams. Provitamin A which are the dark coloured pigment in plant foods. Then there’s beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and cryptoxanthin. Vitamin A food sources include animal livers, fish liver oils, green and yellow fruits, apricots, asparagus, carrots, collards, red peppers, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, turnip, & watercress. Vitamin A deficiency is rare in North America, it occurs more in developing countries Sadly hundreds of thousands of malnourished children in the developing world become blind each year from a vitamin A deficiency. Deficiency in North America occurs if there is dietary restrictions and alcohol intake.Toxicity can occur if too much is taken and if you are supplementing then it recommended that you take no more than 10 000 I.U. to 30 000 I.U. Beta carotenes is a source less toxic form of this supplement, therefore when supplementing it's better to go with this. Make sure you get a pure natural source when adding this supplement to your diet Symptoms of too much vitamin A include vomiting, bone and joint pain (which may result in osteoporosis), dry scaly skin, and liver damage. You should eat at least 5 servings of yellow and orange fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, and lean meat and egg. It’s best to eat vitamin a rich fruits and veggies raw if possible, if not steam bake or broil them instead of frying.
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