The Basics of Vitamin A
Vitamin a is an essential nutrient. It is especially import for proper eye health and bone growth from infancy until maturity. As well it is important for pregnant mothers to have a sufficient amount so the fetus will properly develop into a healthy child. A lack of Vitamin a will cause birth defects.
Vitamin A is found naturally in several foods. Any yellowish or orange food is usually loaded with Vitamin A. The orange color is Beta Carotene, a member of the carotenoid family, which is a retinyl group that helps Vitamin A to work.
- all types of liver
- carrots
- sweet potatoes
- pumpkin
- cantaloupe
- papaya
- mango
- apricots
- eggs
- peas
- broccoli leaves
- butter
- leafy green vegetables
You must understand how important vitamins are. Vitamin A is important for certain things in your body such as vision, gene transcription, bone growth, immune system, skin health, antioxidant activity and reducing the risk of cancer or heart problems. As in most vitamins the critical period is when you are young, which is why it is necessary to help your kids eat right when they are young and growing. In pregnancy it is also important to get more vitamins than you normally get, which is why prenatal vitamins are excellent to take. Vitamin A has been shown to affect Iron use in the body. A deficiency may cause an Iron deficiency. A Vitamin A supplement has been shown to help in reducing Iron deficiencies in children and pregnant women. Children who do not get enough Vitamin A have been proven to have a higher rate of diarrhea and respiratory problems as well as an increased risk of death from infectious disease.
As a comparison, children up until 8 years old need about 400 Mg. daily. From 9 to 13, children need about 600 Mg. daily. Grown men need about 900 Mg. daily and grown women about 700. But pregnant women need 750 Mg. daily and lactating women need about 1300 Mg. daily.
