Vitamin A is known as Retinol. It's a fat-soluble vitamin. Your
body requires an adequate amount of Vitamin A for healthy
vision, bone growth, immune functions, and reproduction. In
addition, Vitamin A promotes the development and maintenance of
a healthy overall appearance. A person's skin and hair appear
healthier when the recommended intake of Vitamin A is met on a
daily basis.
Do you know how to get enough Vitamin A? Some reliable food
sources where Vitamin A can be found are: spinach, sweet
potatoes, carrots, kale, tomatoes, broccoli, peas, bell peppers,
turnips, peaches, cantaloupe, papaya, mango, oatmeal, milk,
liver, and eggs. As you can see, Vitamin A is very friendly to
the Vegetarian and Vegan diet.
Persons over the age of nineteen should watch their daily diets
and Vitamin A intake. It's suggested that males over the age of
nineteen consume meals which from which they will obtain 900
micrograms of Vitamin A on a daily basis. Females over the age
of nineteen, on the other hand, should have an intake of 700
micrograms of this vitamin on a daily basis.
Through research and surveys, statistics show that most North
Americans do not suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. Perhaps, this
is because it's present in most the foods we eat on a daily
basis. If it's not a naturally occurring vitamin, it has most
likely been added to many of the foods that we love so much. In
fact, those persons in North America who do suffer from vitamin
deficiency are found to be those who partake in strict dietary
restrictions and consume large amounts of alcohol. Excess
alcohol depletes Vitamin A in your body.
Nevertheless, there are millions (if not billions) of people
that suffer from Vitamin A deficiency on a global level. For
instance, when you examine developing countries with
malnourished citizens, Vitamin A deficiencies can be observed.
Vitamin A is required for proper immune functions. Without a
proper intake, a person's body can not fight infections
properly. Hence, many children die each year from infections
throughout developing countries. Studies also link vitamin A
deficient individuals with Pneumonia. When deficient, the cells
that line the lungs lose their ability to remove disease causing
microorganisms.
Unfortunately, Vitamin A deficiency can have life-altering or
life-threatening effects. According to the World Health
Organization: "An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 vitamin
A-deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying
within 12 months of losing their sight." These tragic
consequences require sustainable solutions.
Those who feel that they are lacking Vitamin A in their diets
should talk to their family physician about a scheduled diet or
Vitamin A supplements. While supplements may seem like a hassle,
they're a quick remedy, low cost, and Vitamin A may be exactly
what your body needs to help you maintain a healthy life.
About the author:
Marissa Wilson is a researcher and writer for
www.vitaminetc.com
and other health related websites and publications.
