Importance of Vitamin A foods in a diet
Vitamin A is a collective term used for fat-soluble compounds that our body needs to function correctly.
They can be essential for many aspects of our body and form part of a healthy and balanced diet. Foods containing it are important along with supplements.
You can find it in both plant and animal products, and it is very easy to ensure that you are getting precisely what you need. You may already be eating the foods it can be found in.
However, you may not fully understand the importance of Vitamin A in a diet, so here are some of the reasons why you should ensure that it forms part of your daily intake.
Helps protect your eyes
Vitamin A is essential to help when it comes to eyesight. Especially the strength of your eye when being used in dim light.
One of the common causes of things like night blindness is not getting enough Vitamin A in your diet.
Reduces the risk of certain cancers
We are all aware that cancer is a big issue when it comes to your health and while in some cases it cannot be helped, the right intake of Vitamin A can reduce the risk of certain cancers including cervical, lung, and bladder cancer.
However, there is still a lot of research looking into this. Right now plant-based vitamin A is linked as being a contender to reduce the chances of these cancers, whereas animal-based vitamin A is not linked in the same way.
Supports a healthy immune system
It also can play a big role when it comes to a healthy immune system. It can help support areas in your body such as mucous barriers that can form in your eyes, lungs, and gut.
This is a common defence against infection.
Helps with skin issues like acne
Many people can struggle with skin issues and acne is one of the most common ones. Acne is often caused by a build-up of oils and skin cells in pores and hair follicles in your skin.
Vitamin A can aid in an increased production of keratin in your hair follicles which can help to avoid build-up.
Many doctors may provide you with medications containing Vitamin A to help with serious acne problems.
Vitamin A foods
Increasing the amount of vitamin A in your diet is never going to be a bad thing, and you will likely not need to make too many changes as you may already include some of the common foods in your diet.
You will find Vitamin A in the following foods:
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Oily fish
- Milk and yoghurt
- Liver and liver products such as pate
We also know that our bodies can convert other nutrients into vitamin A such as beta-carotene. Some of the foods you can find this in include:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Sweet potato
- Mango
- Apricots
Hopefully, this has made you more aware of the importance of vitamin A in our diets.
Other articles you might find helpful
If you are interested in nutrition and keep a check on what vitamins and minerals you have these articles may also be helpful.
Everything you need to know about Iron and Iron-rich foods
Vitamin B12, everything you need to know
Signs of vitamin deficiency in kids
The nutritional value of cranberries
Why you need vitamin b for energy
Calcium – all you need to know about calcium-rich foods
