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Reprint Article Code

Category: Articles » Health & Fitness » Article » Article Code

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

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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: <a 
href=http://www.thehappyguy.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe.html>
pumpkin cheesecake</a>. 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.

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