Facts About Vitamins

Vitamin A

Vitamin A was given the first letter of the alphabet, as it was the first to be discovered. Like many vitamins it has numerous functions within the body including aiding cell growth and boosting the immune system. Vitamin A is not only absorbed from our food but is also created from beta-carotene, which is the chemical that colors vegetables such as carrots. Vitamin A also has a role in the eyes hence the saying that carrots help you to see in the dark.

 

Vitamin A’s crucial role in the immune system is to aid the growth and repair of the body’s first line of defense including the eyes, mouth, nose, throat and lungs. Which would be susceptible to illness and infection if damaged, if not rapidly healed, as they are in contact with the outside world. Vitamin A is also especially important in growing children helping their bones and teeth to develop normally and so it is vital they get enough.

 

Vitamin A is found in many different foods ranging from eggs and milk to meat and liver. Beta-carotene is commonly found in orange, red and some green fruits and vegetables where it is often responsible for the coloring. Vitamin A can be toxic in too great a quantity so it is important to remember not to exceed the recommended daily allowance. The actual amount will depend on numerous factors including age, sex, weight and height. Though too much pure vitamin A can be toxic, there is a far higher limit on beta-carotene. As such, it is advisable to eat this as much as possible and let your body create the vitamin A it needs for itself, rather than eating lots of vitamin A rich foods or taking vitamin A supplements which could lead to health problems especially if done regularly over a long period.

 

As mentioned before, the saying that carrots aid nocturnal eyesight comes from the fact that they contain lots of beta-carotene, which is turned into vitamin A that is known to aid eyesight. Other vegetables with high levels of beta-carotene and thus having similar properties are tomatoes and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach. However beta-carotene is important for other reasons, it is a powerful antioxidant. No beta-carotene is wasted, that which is not used to create vitamin A is sent to combat the free radicals causing damage inside the cells of your body.