5 reasons why vitamin A is really good for you!

Why you need vitamin A.

While we need all vitamins for our body to function in the optimum manner, we need to know how each of them work individually to better our health. Here s how vitamin A helps us.

Can prevent cancer: The dreaded C-word can be kept at bay by including foods rich in vitamin A in your diet. According to a study conducted at the University of York, vitamin A intake could help treat several forms of cancer thanks to the vitamin s ability to control the malignant cells. The study was mainly done on prostate cancer cells but it may work for other kinds of cancer as well. But it warns people not to blindly pop vitamin supplements. It is best to your vitamin intake from natural sources. Read can organic food prevent cancer?

Helps build immunity in children: Vitamin A has various benefits for improving children s health. A study done in London found that vitamin A supplements reduced child mortality by 24 per cent in low and middle-income countries. The study also found that vitamin A deficiency in children increased vulnerability to infections like diarrhoea and measles and could also lead to blindness. Also read 6 immunity boosting foods for kids.

Helps perform bodily functions: Vitamin A plays a direct role in performing physiological functions and also helps in the development of the central nervous system. It is also needed in the formation of sperm cells, regulation of haemoglobin production in the embryo, and also activating nuclear receptor TR4 which is responsible for these functions.

Prevents signs of ageing: Vitamin A has antioxidants which not only prevent free radical damage but also help in skin renewal. The retinoid keeps lines and wrinkles away by producing more collagen which is responsible for keeping the skin looking young. If you want healthy hair, make sure you have your vitamin A intake daily. You may also want to read how to deal with premature aging.

Improves vision: Vitamin A not just improves your eyesight by helping it distinguish between light and dark, it also keeps various eye disorders at bay. Many of these affect the elderly but a deficiency can cause the disorder to appear even in adulthood. Night blindness, glaucoma, cataracts are a few eye problems which can be avoided with vitamin A. You may also read why eating tomatoes is good for your vision.

A word of caution

Vitamin A exists in two forms retinoids (mostly found in animal products) and beta-carotene (plant sources). While there isn t any upper limit on the latter, retinoid should not be consumed in excess as it can have harmful effects on your body. It is also important to note that popping vitamin pills without any doctor s recommendation can be bad for health. It is best to get yourself checked and follow what the doctor prescribes. Natural sources are better. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin A from retinol is as follows:

For men (14 and above): 900 mcg/day

For women (14 and above): 700 mcg/day

Pregnant women: 770 mcg/day

Breastfeeding: 1300 mcg/day

RDA data sourced from WebMD.

Image source: Getty Images

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