foods high in vitamin a
January 12, 2008
Taking Advantage of Foods High in Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a very important nutrient. It is actually a group of fat soluble substances that is important to help maintain and grow healthy hair, skin, as well as mucous membranes. Vitamin A is needed by people to see when the light is dim. It also plays an important function in the growth of bones, development of the teeth, and reproduction.
Eating foods high in Vitamin A are the best way of filling the requirement for this nutrient. Here are some foods high in Vitamin A:
Grain Products: Ready-to-eat cereals and oatmeal.
Fruits: Watermelon, plums, nectarine, melon, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango, mandarin orange, apricots, and pink grapefruit.
Vegetables: Turnip greens, turnips, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, spinach, plantain, kale, sweet red pepper, carrots, peas, mustard greens, escarole, romaine, chicory, endive, collards, chard, and broccoli.
Meats: Lean meat, turkey, chicken liver, pork, and beef.
Milk products: Cheese, yogurt, and milk.
The best means of obtaining the adequate amount of vitamin A is by eating a wide variety of these foods. Supplements aren’t really needed by healthy people who partake of these foods regularly. Supplements are sometimes not advisable because they can give people too much vitamin A and cause vitamin toxicity. Thus the best way of getting vitamin A is by eating foods high in Vitamin A. It is cheaper and it allows people to get other kinds of nutrients.
It is important to get an adequate amount of vitamin A to maintain normal body functions. Individuals who don’t get enough vitamin A may go blind. Others may contract infectious diseases like measles. Vitamin A deficiency may also make skin and hair very dry as well as the fingernails. The lack of Vitamin A may also make one susceptible to pneumonia.
Some people take too much vitamin A from supplements. This could result in a condition known as hypervitaminosis A, which is basically toxicity of the vitamin. This results in drying, itchiness, hair loss, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, liver damage, and vomiting. Eventually this could result in the loss of muscle coordination, blurred vision and dizziness. Too much vitamin A may also cause birth defects.
This is why it is recommended to get vitamin A from foods that are rich in the nutrient. It is healthier and perhaps more enjoyable as this can helps one partake of the gifts of Mother Nature.