Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is essential for normal growth and development.
It is essential for healthy vision and helps your eyes adjust to light changes.
It also helps keep your eyes, skin, and mucous membranes moist. Vitamin A boosts the immunity of the body and helps it fight illnesses and viral infections like measles and pneumonia
This vitamin promotes the formation of strong bones and can improve skin conditions like acne or psoriasis. Vitamin A is well known as a wrinkle eliminator.
A form of vitamin A called beta-carotene has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals.
Vitamin A mostly comes from meat. Some plant sources supply beta-carotene, which your body then converts into vitamin A.
In meats, vitamin A is found in the form of retinol, which is one of the most important forms of vitamin A. Some important sources of retinol include:
1.Animal Liver, including cod liver oil
2. Beef
3. Chicken
4. Eggs
5. Fish
6. Cheese
In plants, vitamin A is found as provitamin A carotenoids. Some important carotenoids are carotene (alpha and beta carotene) and cryptoxanthin.
Some of the fruits that are rich in vitamin A are:
1.Apricot
2.Cantaloupe
3.Mango
4.Orange
5.Apple
6.Watermelon
7.Plum
8.Blackberries
9.Peaches
10.Kiwi
Some vegetable sources of vitamin A are:
1.Carrots
2.Pumpkin
3.Broccoli leaf
4.Peas
5.Spinach
6.Sweet potato
7.Turnip
8.Tomatoes
9. Wheat germ
10.Escarole
11.Collards
Cooking and storing of these vegetables and fruits may result in a substantial loss of their vitamin A content.
Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect your cells against cancer and other diseases. It also improves your vision and prevents night blindness.
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