Supplements Information

Vitamin A - The Glow-in-the-dark Vitamin


The ancient Egyptians had a cure for "night blindness". They fed the patient lots and lots of liver. Perhaps they thought they were appeasing the Gods of sight. In 1930, the first fat-soluble vitamin was discovered - vitamin A - which, it turns out, does indeed appease the Gods of sight.

Vitamin A is best known for improving eyesight, particularly at night, which is one of two reasons we call it the glow-in-the-dark vitamin. But the eyes are not the only part of your body grateful for your generous consumption of vitamin A.

Your skin also benefits. And your hair. And mucous membranes. And nails. In fact, almost any surface lining your body can find.

Your immune system benefits, too, giving you added resources to ward off infections. Bones and teeth are strengthened with proper amounts of vitamin A, and even the risk of some cancers can be reduced with vitamin A.

And there are more confirmed and suspected benefits.

The other reason we call Vitamin A the glow-in-the-dark vitamin is because it is best known as the bright orange color in so many foods we enjoy. Like pumpkins, pumpkin pie and my favorite: pumpkin cheesecake ( see my recipe at http://www.thehappyguy.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe.html ). And, of course, carrots, squash, peaches, apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, sweet potatoes and the rest of the orange-spangled veggie gang.

But again, vitamin A is much more than meets the eye, because it is not actually vitamin A that turns the fruit and vegetables orange, but a precursor to vitamin A called beta carotene. Beta carotene does not become vitamin A until your body processes it.

And vitamin A is just as likely, if not more so, to come from protein sources such as most dairy products, egg yolks and some fish. And the queen of all vitamin A sources is liver, that ancient Egyptian God of sight. Calves liver. Chicken liver. Pork liver. Any liver you can sink your teeth into.

The vitamin A in protein sources is real vitamin A, no processing required.

Other great sources of vitamin A are dark green vegetables, such as Swiss chard, broccoli, spinach and beet greens.

As important as it is to glow with vitamin A, don't glow too brightly. An overdose can be harmful to bones and skin, causing weakness and brittleness, even leading to fatigue and vomiting.

It is advisable not to take a vitamin A supplement except under the supervision of a physician. In most cases, it is much better to take a liquid multivitamin such as Essential Nectar in recommended daily doses. There is very little chance of getting an overdose that way.

Also, increase your intake of beta carotene sources to avoid an overdose. Whereas your body absorbs all the vitamin A it takes in directly, it converts only the beta carotene it needs (talk about customization!).

So get glowing and get the vitamin A you need.

About The Author

David Leonhardt runs The Liquid Vitamin Supplements Store: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net

Learn more about vitamin A: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net/vitamins/vitamin-a.html

Info@thehappyguy.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Vitamin B, Folate Supplements Won't Help Heart
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 6 hours ago
19 (HealthDay News) -- A study to determine whether folic acid and vitamin B supplements help the heart has been cut short, because the pills weren't doing ...
No benefit from B Vitamin - study The Press Association
Fortifying bread with folic acid is 'no protection from heart disease' Times Online
B vitamins: no magic bullet against heart disease Globe and Mail
WebMD - MarketWatch
all 36 news articles


Helsingin Sanomat

Parties in Parliament differ sharply on future of income supplements
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland - 14 hours ago
Coalition Party) of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, says that social work and income supplements should not be split apart from each other. ...


From diet supplements to illegal Net pharmacy
MSNBC - 12 hours ago
By Mike Brunker In a sudden ending to a strange courtroom saga, a Georgia company that manufactures herbal nutritional supplements and three of its ...


Team Mannatech(TM) Athlete Wins Knoxville Nationals for Third ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
a leading developer and provider of dietary supplements and skin care solutions, has announced that Team Mannatech athlete Donny Schatz won the Knoxville ...


Eye Supplements - Beyond Vitamin A
Corsavoo.com, France - 7 hours ago
However, the wide range of vitamin supplements that are on the market today have made it easier for consumers to get their recommended daily allowance of ...


NDTV.com

Bulgarian coach takes blame for doping
CNN - Aug 18, 2008
"I take the full responsibility for Daniela Yordanova's positive doping test,'' Coach Dimitar Vasilev said Monday, blaming tainted diet supplements for the ...
Coach takes blame for Bulgarian runner's positive doping test Sofia Echo
Bulgarian Yordanova's coach takes blame for ban guardian.co.uk
Yordanova out of Olympics for doping NDTV.com
RTE.ie - The Associated Press
all 232 news articles


Reliv raises $68K for malnourished kids
Bizjournals.com, NC - 11 hours ago
The Reliv Foundation provides free nutritional supplements to more than 42000 people, mostly children, in the United States and nine other countries. ...


What Are The Various Types Of Supplements?
Corsavoo.com, France - 16 hours ago
You can become a distributor for nutritional supplements, start a home business, or even do direct sales. To be successful in the nutritional supplement ...


Healthy Supplements For A Healthy Body And Mind
Corsavoo.com, France - 13 hours ago
Let’s not keep you in suspense. Below would be a list of the most important vitamins that the body needs to keep going. Having adequate exercise for the ...


ASK DR. WEIL: Supplements for cancer patients?
Lancaster Newspapers, PA - 15 hours ago
By DR. ANDREW WEIL / New Era Columnist Q. I just heard that flaxseed and ginseng benefit cancer patients. True? If so, how should they be used? ...

Supplements - Google News

home | site map
© 2006