Health Benefits of Vitamin A
June 30, 2009
Vitamin A which is otherwise called retinol or anti infective element is found to have a number of health benefits. Vitamin A is present in both animal foods and in plant foods. Plants contain beta-carotene which on reaching the body will be converted in to vitamin A by the body.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and if you take too much vitamin A then it will get stored in the liver. The excess consumption of vitamin A will cause toxicity and may cause hair loss, growth retardation, enlargement of spleen and liver etc.
Sources of Vitamin A
You will get lot of vitamin A from egg yolk, fish liver oil, fortified milk, cheddar cheese, animal liver, cream, margarine etc. Fruits and vegetables can also supplement you with vitamin A. Orange or yellow colored fruits and green leafy vegetables like spinach, collard greens, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato, apricots, cantaloupe etc contains beta carotene which on absorbing to the blood will be converted in to vitamin A with in the body.
Health Benefits of Vitamin A
1. Avoid Infection
Vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining and developing the epithelial tissues and also protects the mucous membrane from infections.
2. Prevent Cancer
Vitamin A has anti oxidant property which can be used for protecting our body from free radicals. The free radicals on binding with healthy tissues will destroy the cells and may cause cancer. Thus vitamin A will protect you from cancer especially the glands and organs that consist of epithelial tissues like the skin, mammary gland, lungs, reproductive organs, bladder, gut etc.
3. Prevent Degeneration
Vitamin A also protect us from the degenerative changes that happens during atherosclerosis, arthritis etc. The anti-oxidative property of vitamin A will prevent the formation of free radicals and thus protect the cells from degeneration.
4. Protect Eyes
Vitamin A will help you to prevent night blindness and it will also protect the eye from infections. It will form a protective layer over the surface and will protect the eyes from bacterial and viral infections.
5. Strengthen Teeth and Bone
Vitamin A will aid in teeth development and also in bone growth.
6. Protects Skin and Hair
Vitamin A also helps you to maintain a healthy skin and hair.
7. Fortify Immune System
Vitamin A also helps us to fortify the immune system and protect the body both internally and externally.
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