Vitamin A
vitamins And Minerals > > Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the more widely known vitamins and minerals. This vitamin is known for its properties related to better eyesight. It is also famously known to be acquired by eating carrots. However, there is more to vitamin A than that.
Vitamin A contributes not only to good vision, but to the overall health of eyes as well. Vitamin A is also one of the vitamins and minerals essential to healthy skin and bones. It also aids in hormone synthesis, making sure the body's system is producing the chemicals it needs.
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a little different from the other vitamins and minerals. While vitamin A can be directly taken, it is usually derived, during the course of its journey through the body, from carotene. In order to be in vitamin A form, the carotene must have been previously synthesized. This means that to obtain natural vitamin A, a person would have to eat meats or animal products.
Necessary to vitamin A is vitamin E. Vitamins A and E make up a vitamin and mineral team that allows vitamin A's rate of oxidation to be regulated. This keeps it from metabolizing too quickly, allowing vitamin A to properly enter the blood stream.
The recommended amount of vitamin A is expressed in retinol equivalents. For women, the retinol equivalent is 800. The equivalent for men is 1,000. It is important to note these equivalencies, as vitamin A, unlike vitamin C and some other vitamins and minerals, can be toxic if taken in excess. Although this is hard to do, it is worth keeping in mind.
Some of the indications of vitamin A toxicity are joint pain, which should not be confused with arthritis, dry and itchy skin, as well as cracked lips, which can cause extreme discomfort and can lead to skin infections if scratched excessively. Nausea and vomiting are also indications, as is weight loss, which can be an effect of the vomiting.
While it is important to be careful not to take too much vitamin A, it should be remembered that there are unpleasant side effects associated with a deficiency. Poor teeth and bone growth are results of a vitamin A deficiency; vitamin A works with calcium (among other vitamins and minerals) to keep the skeleton is proper shape. Night blindness is an effect of vitamin A deficiency. Diarrhea resulting from a lack of vitamin A can cause problems related to dehydration.
Foods that provide vitamin A include animal products like cheese, butter, eggs and fortified milk. Liver also provides ready-synthesized vitamin A. Dark green leafy vegetables, as well as deep orange fruits and vegetables are sources of carotene, which the body then turns into vitamin A.
Vitamin not only helps our eyes, is affects our skin, bones and hormones. While toxic in excess amounts, a balanced diet with the proper amount of vitamin A will contribute to the overall good health of the human body.