Vitamin A- Nature’s Antioxidant

Vitamin A is essential in maintaining good vision, bone growth and cell reproduction.  Vitamin A is also essential in regulating the immune system by making white blood cells which fight infection.  This is why Vitamin A is called “nature’s antioxidant” because its role is primarily focused on cell growth and reproduction.  Without Vitamin A, we lose the ability to regenerate new cells.

There are essentially two types of Vitamin A, the ones we get from meat, and the ones we get from fruit and vegetables.  Vitamin A from meat, also called preformed Vitamin A and is absorbed as retinol directly into the body.  Some good sources of retinol are liver and whole milk.  The Vitamin A we get when we ingest fruit and vegetables is called Pro Vitamin A, a carotenoid, which is formed into retinol by the body.  An excellent source of Pro Vitamin A are carrots, spinach, cantaloupe and apricots.

Another benefit of eating foods rich in Vitamin A is that carotenoids function as antioxidants in the body.  These antioxidants contain free radicals which eliminate protect cells from the by products of oxygen metabolism.  Meaning, these antioxidants extend cell life.

Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness.  A staggering 250,000-500,000 children go blind in developing countries because of Vitamin A deficiency.  People who lack Vitamin A have weak immune systems, limiting their ability to fight germs, bacteria and infections.  Children with low immune responses die from childhood diseases like measles.  Cell linings in the lungs also become thinner in Vitamin A deficient people.  This makes them susceptible to diseases like pneumonia.

Vitamin A is found in a lot of foods and is easy for the body to convert into retinol.  Retinol is also essential in reducing the risk of heart disease, good skin health and embryonic development.  Always include food rich in Vitamin A like broccoli, sweet potatoes, eggs and butter.

.