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Vitamin A

Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites

Natural Food Sources Containing Vitamin A: Retinol & Beta Carotene

Retinol sources of Vitamin A derived from animals: food sources for Retinol Vitamin A include liver oil, liver, halibut, salmon, herring, mackerel and free range eggs.

Beta Carotene sources of Vitamin A derived from plants, vegetables and fruits: food sources for Beta Carotene include carrots, spinach, greens, oranges, apricots, melon of a varieties, peaches, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes of all varieties.

Vitamin A Nutrition, Therapeutic Uses

Vitamin A Nutrition Benefits for the Body

General - Benefits sight, skin, the immune system, bones, aids in growth.

Therapeutic Uses for Vitamin A:  Certain types of skin cancer, acne, eczema, psoriasis and gastric ulcers.

A healthy diet incorporates essential vitamins and minerals which can assist the dieter with better weight loss results.  Because dieters generally restrict calories, vitamin supplements may help ensure better nutrition and a more efficient metabolism.

Vitamin A, RDA

Vitamin A Daily Recommended Amount μg/d (daily micrograms):

Infants & Children:

0 to 6 months old - 400

7 to 12 months old - 500

1 to 3 years old - 300

4 to 8 years old - 400

Males:

9 to 13 years old - 600

14 and older - 900

Females:

9 to 13 years old - 600

14 and up - 700

Pregnancy:

14 to 18 years old - 750

19 and older - 770

Lactation:

14 to 18 years old - 1,200

19 and older - 1,300

Vitamin A Deficiency Symptoms

Eyes: Vitamin A deficiency affects the eyes in the following manners: poor sight (particularly Night Vision), itchy eyes, pain in eye, burning eye, ulceration of the eye.

Skin & Hair:  Vitamin A deficiency symptoms include: dry skin, scaly skin, infections involving the skin such as boils, scaly scalp, brittle hair.

Overall:  Deficiency symptoms for Vitamin A include infections of the spinal area, respiratory organs, chronic headaches.  

Health Notes Regarding Vitamin Deficiencies

When dieting pay close attention to your body and look for signs that may indicate health warnings such as fatigue, light headedness and an over all feeing of illness. These could be signs of a vitamin deficiency for the restricted-calorie dieter and require attention by a professional doctor.

Vitamin A Interactions, Offenders & Health Warnings

Vitamin A Offenders Regarding Cooking Methods

- Heating
- Frying
- Dehydrating

Health Warnings for Performed Vitamin A

A type of vitamin A, Performed Vitamin A prevalent in vitamin supplements, some cereals and animal products (chiefly found in liver) should be regulated by women who are pregnant, breastfeeding and by those women planning conception.

The FDA recommendation is a limit of 5,000 IU daily. Birth defects have been noted in cases where the mother exceeds 10,000 IU daily.

The body has the ability to convert some foods into Vitamin A that contain beta carotene - generally plant sources and these present less of a toxic risk than Performed Vitamin A.  Safe sources of Vitamin A include natural fruits and vegetables.

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