Did you know that Vitamin A is essential for good vision, healthy skin and strong bones?

Eating enough of all of the 13 essential vitamins and 21 essential minerals is key to optimising health.

Vitamin A in particular, impacts many of the systems of the body.

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it helps reduce oxidative stress.

Vitamin A is an organic fat-soluble vitamin that can be found in a variety of foods.

The active compound in vitamin A is called beta-carotene.

Carotenoids (like beta-carotene) are yellow, orange, and red organic pigments produced by plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi.

Carotenoids give a vibrant colour to all sorts of forms of life

… such as – parsnips, corn, tomatoes, turmeric, pumpkins, carrots, canaries, flamingos, salmon, lobster, shrimp, and daffodils.

The best way to get Vitamin A is through your diet, by eating plenty of red or orange fruits and vegetables.

Here’s everything you need to know about vitamin A…

What Is Vitamin A and What Are Its Benefits?

Vitamin A is an antioxidant and a nutrient that’s essential for good vision, healthy skin, a strong immune system, a healthy reproductive system, and strong bones. It’s important to make sure you’re getting enough of this important nutrient in your diet! Because vitamin A has potent antioxidant properties, it helps your body cleanse out toxins and free radicals.

There are two organic forms of vitamin A. One from plants, and the other from animals. Retinoids are found in animals and carotenoids are found in plants. In humans vitamin A is stored in the form of retinol. There is a third type of vitamin A and that’s the synthetic vitamin A known as retinoic acid.

Different Types of Vitamin A Supplements

Vitamin A comes in three forms: provitamin A (or carotenoids), found in plant-based foods, and preformed vitamin A1 (or retinol), which is found in animal sources. The third is a synthetic form known as retinoic acid.

Vitamin A1 (retinoids) – Animal-based vitamin A is known as retinoids, which the body uses to produce retinal and retinoic acid. Retinoids can be used by the body as they are.
Provitamin A (carotenoids) – The form of vitamin A found in plants is referred to as the “inactive” form. Its compounds are called alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Provitamin A must be converted to active vitamin A in the body.

Retinol vs Retinoic Acid

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is found in supplements and skin creams. It is a weaker form of the vitamin, and must be converted to retinoic acid in order to be effective. Retinol has been shown to be effective in treating acne, wrinkles, and sun damage. It is also effective in preventing skin cancer. But it’s not vegan.

Retinoic acid is the form of vitamin A that’s found in prescription medications. It is the most active form of the vitamin, and is effective in treating acne, wrinkles, sun damage, and psoriasis. Retinoic acid has also been shown to be effective in preventing skin cancer. As it’s synthetic, retinoic acid is suitable for vegans.

How to Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Vitamin A

One way is to eat foods that are high in vitamin A. Some good sources of vitamin A include – carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, apricots, turmeric, red bell pepper and cantaloupe melon. You can also take a vitamin A supplement if you’re not getting enough from your diet. The safest and most natural way to supplement vitamin A is with a plant based multivitamin.

Another way to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A is to be aware of the signs of deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include night blindness, weak bones, dry skin and hair, and frequent infections. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about increasing your intake of vitamin A. Left untreated, vitamin A deficiency can lead to serious health problems, including blindness.

How Much Vitamin A Is Too Much?

Too much (synthetic) vitamin A can be harmful, and can even lead to death. It’s important to be aware of the risks associated with taking too much vitamin A, especially if you’re taking supplements. Some of the signs of vitamin A toxicity include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and blurred vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking vitamin A and talk to a qualified healthcare professional.

People taking medication, with a substance use disorder, or with kidney or liver disease should consult their doctor before supplementing with vitamin A. It’s also important to be aware that too much vitamin A can be harmful to your liver. So if you’re taking supplements, make sure you’re not taking more than the recommended dose.

Important note:

too much provitamin A from plants will do you no harm. Too much provitamin A can result in a yellowing of the skin. This looks strange but will go back to normal and won’t leave any lasting damage.

Vitamin A Is Important for Overall Health…

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in many aspects of health. If you’re not getting enough vitamin A in your diet, it’s important to supplement with a high quality multivitamin. Natural healthcare products contain vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, mixed carotenoids from spirulina and Dunaliella salina. All plant based and without the risks related to synthetic vitamin A.

Final Thoughts on Vitamin A

There are many plant-based foods that are rich in provitamin A. Some of the best sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, turmeric, pumpkin, spinach, and kale. If you’re looking to boost your intake of this important nutrient, be sure to add some of these plant-based foods to your diet! Alternatively, supplement with a plant based, all natural multivitamin that will provide you with the vitamin A you need without any side effects.