A Closer Look at Vitamin A

Want Improved Health (and Shiny Hair)? 5 Aspects of Vitamin A to Consider We're all familiar with the phrase "you are what you eat." Some of us have even uttered it once or twice when trying to convince family members - or ourselves - to choose healthy foods. After all, eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and protein-filled food fuels our body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function properly. But, let's face it. We can't always get everything we need from our diet. For some of us, supplements can offer the exact nutrients our bodies are deficient in. Whether we get our vitamins from natural or supplementary sources, the important thing is that we get them - regularly. Here are five important aspects about vitamin A and why we specifically need it in our daily diet. 1. What is Vitamin A? Vitamin A consists of biologically active compounds called retinoids that naturally occur in plant and animal tissue. This is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it's absorbed and stored in the body. To be exact, vitamin A is absorbed in our lymph nodes, then transported in our bloodstream and stored in our liver and fatty tissues. Since vitamin A, like vitamins D, E and K, can be stored in our bodies, we can build up excess - even toxic - amounts of it. 2. Why Do We Need Vitamin A? Vitamin A helps keep our immune system running properly. It's a powerful antioxidant that aids our skin and mucous membranes in fighting off viruses and bacteria. As if that's no...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news