Benefits of Vitamin A

This is the vitamin that has been called the "miracle vitamin" for years because of the positive impact it has on enhancing our immunity and growth.

Women also love this vitamin since it is believed to be able to slow the aging process by improving the overall skin condition.

These are a few examples of benefits of vitamin A to us:

• Act as anti-oxidant, helping to protect our cells against cancer and other disease
  
  
• Vitamin A improves our vision and prevents night blindness
  
  
• This vitamin promotes formation of strong bones
  
  
• Vitamin A guards us against bacterial, viral, parasitic infections
  
  
• Guards us against heart disease, stroke and lowers blood cholesterol level
  
  
• It can improve skin condition like acne or psoriasis
  
  
• A well-known wrinkle eliminator, vitamin A reduces fine lines in the skin and helps fade age spots.
  
  
• Vitamin A supplements may help kids who have respiratory problem
  
  
• The supplement is also believed to help people suffering from glaucoma and measles.

Best absorbed together with little oil or fat in our diet, a person thinking of taking vitamin A supplement should stay with the "natural fish oil" forms.

The best source of vitamin A is of course the one provided by nature since unlike the supplement form, nature's source of vitamin A can never be toxic.

Vitamin A in Nature

In nature vitamin A comes in two forms. One is retinol: something that you'll find in liver, dairy products, eggs or cod liver oils.

The second form of nature's vitamin A is beta-carotene, an orange-yellow to red pigment that the body converts to vitamin A when necessary. Beta-carotene is found in brightly colored fruit and vegetables. The brighter the fruit, the more beta-carotene it contains.

You will find beta-carotene in vegetables and fruits like apricots, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, spinach etc. For your information, taking large amount of vitamin A supplements for a long time can be bad for your health, but you don't get the same side effect by taking a large amount of fruits or vegetable that contains beta-carotene. This substance has also been found to prevent cancer by neutralizing the cancer-agent.

Who Can Gain From the Benefits of Vitamin A Supplements?

Some people may need to take vitamin A supplement. Examples of people who will benefit are:

• People who are unable to see in the dark, or have dry and dull eyes.
  
  
• Kids who have poor growth
  
  
• People who have skin problems.
  
  
• Anyone who are under low skin diet or having poor absorption (like suffering from cystic fibrosis).

Source : http://www.oohoi.com/healthy_living/vitamin-info/benefit-vitamin-A.htm