Vitamin A, aka retinol, is a fat soluble vitamin that is only readily available in animal fat. I say readily available because some of us are able to convert the carotenes found in vegetable matter into retinol. As I explained in another article on what is vitamin A, at least some people are mistaken in believing they are getting sufficient uptake from vegetables.
Many people are incapable of converting carotenes, found in vegetables and mistakenly referred to as vitamin A, into retinol. This is especially true of babies and kids, diabetics and anyone without optimum thyroid function. Just the group including diabetics and poor thyroid function includes more than half the U.S. Population!
Studies have also shown that the conversion only takes place when the diet includes fat. The prestigious Merck Index, a well established, definitive source for scientists and researchers seeking an answer to such matters says, "Vitamin A is only in animal foods."
The vital importance of this vitamin can be seen in how our bodies have developed. We are able to store supplies of vitamin A in the liver and other organs capable of sustaining us for a couple of years! Many vegetarians who are incapable of converting carotenes to vitamin A can get along well for many months before showing overt signs of deficiency.
However, these resources are rapidly depleted during periods of stress. The typical stresses include any strenuous physical exertion as well as periods of physical growth. Infections also deplete stores of vitamin A. Expectant mothers are susceptible to depletion of vitamin A as both pregnancy and lactation cause large draw-downs of stores.
The latter can spell dire consequences for their babies such as, eye defects, hare lips and cleft palates as well as problems with the heart and blood vessels, even displaced kidneys. Children contracting serious measles, which used to be dreaded for the fact, can suffer permanent blindness due to the depletion of retinol.
The most dense concentration of vitamin A is, of course, found in our retinas whence it gets its scientific name. Hence, a host of eye problems including blindness can be caused by deficiency. Retinol is also needed by our bodies for a multitude of tasks such as developing good teeth and strong bones. In an article on sources of vitamin A I explained how vitamin A works synergistically with vitamins D and K2 to build and repair bone.
Vitamin A is vital for growth and repair of body tissue and protects our mucous membrane in our mouths, noses, throats and lungs. It also promotes secretion of gastric juices, which are crucial for proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
One of the most important thing about fat soluble vitamins, especially vitamin A, is that they act as catalysts. They are, in a sense, essential for most all of the growth and repair of our skeletal structure, tissue, organs and etc.
While vitamin A deficiency is generally thought to be a problem of underdeveloped countries and under control in the U.S. not all researchers would agree. The symptoms are often subclinical in children, which means they cannot be detected through the usual examinations by a physician.
Low fat diets are now routinely recommended for infants and young children due to the cholesterol myth. Next time you take a stroll through the mall take note of how many tall, lanky, myopic youth with narrow faces and crowded teeth you can spot.
They can be seen in a growing abundance, all pretty good signs of vitamin A deficiency. Researchers are beginning to awaken to the fact the SAD diet (Standard American Diet) has brought home to roost some of these vitamin deficiencies usually thought of as problems of developing countries.
If the unhealthy fear promoted by the cholesterol myth isn't bad enough take a look at what lines the bulk of shelves in your local supermarkets. Although canning is a successful method of keeping food from rotting it does a terrible job in preserving this all essential vitamin.
As early as the 1930's the research of the eminent nutritionist Dr. Weston Price demonstrated deficiencies. He studied the number of grade school students in classes for the retarded and backward and the examination results of those graduating to high school in various states which used the same exams.
The results showed marked superiority in some of the southern states, especially the Panhandle area. He rightly attributed this to the quality of agriculture in caliche subsoil which consists of pebbles cemented with calcium carbonate.
The milk products from cows fed the wheat with roots as long as 6 feet from this soil was an excellent source of vitamin A and K2. This produced excellent children, well above the norm. But isn't that what we want and expect?
The "excellent" children should be the norm and that is what is to be expected with proper nutrition!
More information on vitamins and nutrition can be found at Jim's website at Culinary Tidbits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_S_Lovasz
Many people are incapable of converting carotenes, found in vegetables and mistakenly referred to as vitamin A, into retinol. This is especially true of babies and kids, diabetics and anyone without optimum thyroid function. Just the group including diabetics and poor thyroid function includes more than half the U.S. Population!
Studies have also shown that the conversion only takes place when the diet includes fat. The prestigious Merck Index, a well established, definitive source for scientists and researchers seeking an answer to such matters says, "Vitamin A is only in animal foods."
The vital importance of this vitamin can be seen in how our bodies have developed. We are able to store supplies of vitamin A in the liver and other organs capable of sustaining us for a couple of years! Many vegetarians who are incapable of converting carotenes to vitamin A can get along well for many months before showing overt signs of deficiency.
However, these resources are rapidly depleted during periods of stress. The typical stresses include any strenuous physical exertion as well as periods of physical growth. Infections also deplete stores of vitamin A. Expectant mothers are susceptible to depletion of vitamin A as both pregnancy and lactation cause large draw-downs of stores.
The latter can spell dire consequences for their babies such as, eye defects, hare lips and cleft palates as well as problems with the heart and blood vessels, even displaced kidneys. Children contracting serious measles, which used to be dreaded for the fact, can suffer permanent blindness due to the depletion of retinol.
The most dense concentration of vitamin A is, of course, found in our retinas whence it gets its scientific name. Hence, a host of eye problems including blindness can be caused by deficiency. Retinol is also needed by our bodies for a multitude of tasks such as developing good teeth and strong bones. In an article on sources of vitamin A I explained how vitamin A works synergistically with vitamins D and K2 to build and repair bone.
Vitamin A is vital for growth and repair of body tissue and protects our mucous membrane in our mouths, noses, throats and lungs. It also promotes secretion of gastric juices, which are crucial for proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
One of the most important thing about fat soluble vitamins, especially vitamin A, is that they act as catalysts. They are, in a sense, essential for most all of the growth and repair of our skeletal structure, tissue, organs and etc.
While vitamin A deficiency is generally thought to be a problem of underdeveloped countries and under control in the U.S. not all researchers would agree. The symptoms are often subclinical in children, which means they cannot be detected through the usual examinations by a physician.
Low fat diets are now routinely recommended for infants and young children due to the cholesterol myth. Next time you take a stroll through the mall take note of how many tall, lanky, myopic youth with narrow faces and crowded teeth you can spot.
They can be seen in a growing abundance, all pretty good signs of vitamin A deficiency. Researchers are beginning to awaken to the fact the SAD diet (Standard American Diet) has brought home to roost some of these vitamin deficiencies usually thought of as problems of developing countries.
If the unhealthy fear promoted by the cholesterol myth isn't bad enough take a look at what lines the bulk of shelves in your local supermarkets. Although canning is a successful method of keeping food from rotting it does a terrible job in preserving this all essential vitamin.
As early as the 1930's the research of the eminent nutritionist Dr. Weston Price demonstrated deficiencies. He studied the number of grade school students in classes for the retarded and backward and the examination results of those graduating to high school in various states which used the same exams.
The results showed marked superiority in some of the southern states, especially the Panhandle area. He rightly attributed this to the quality of agriculture in caliche subsoil which consists of pebbles cemented with calcium carbonate.
The milk products from cows fed the wheat with roots as long as 6 feet from this soil was an excellent source of vitamin A and K2. This produced excellent children, well above the norm. But isn't that what we want and expect?
The "excellent" children should be the norm and that is what is to be expected with proper nutrition!
More information on vitamins and nutrition can be found at Jim's website at Culinary Tidbits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_S_Lovasz
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