Skincare today goes beyond just grooming products and creams. It includes consuming the right foods and maintaining a healthy diet that provides the essential nutrients to one's body and skin. One of the primary nutrients responsible for good skin is Vitamin A. It is what is known as a ‘retinoid.’
In fact, Vitamin A is the main component in some of the most effective skincare products, such as retinol creams. So, an excellent way to ensure that your skin is perfect is by incorporating Vitamin A supplements into your diet.
Vitamin A is also required for the proper function and development of many body parts, including the eyes and the immune system. It is also used to treat HIV/AIDS, vision problems, infections, and various other ailments.
Apollo Pharmacy stocks a variety of Vitamin A supplements, such as Vitamin A tablets and cod liver oil pills, among many others. All of them offer different concentrations of Vitamin A. Your doctor will prescribe you one of these options according to the degree of your deficiencies.
Consuming Vitamin A supplements allows for effective prevention or treatment of Vitamin A deficiencies. This is important as Vitamin A is a very potent and effective antioxidant. It also protects against various free radicals and may prevent many different forms of cancer.
Vitamin A tablets also prevent diseases such as measles and inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, Vitamin A is good for treating white patches in the mouth caused by smoking. It also helps treat night blindness and even improves night vision and side vision.
Lastly, consuming Vitamin A is a huge contributing factor in safe births in malnourished adults. It has also been proven effective in reducing mortality among children under 5.
Vitamin A is a must in our diets since it ensures a healthier immune system and vision, and repairs skin damage. Here is a list of foods to consume for the right type of Vitamin A intake for a regular adult:
-Cantaloupe
-Carrots
-Cheddar cheese
-Chicken liver (liver sausages or pate)
-Collard greens
-Fish (especially Cod and Salmon)
-Kale
-Papaya
-Pumpkin
-Red and green peppers
-Spinach
-Sweet potatoes
-Winter squash
-Egg yolks
However, it is important to only consume recommended dosages of Vitamin A supplements and Vitamin A-rich foods. Otherwise, it can affect one's health negatively and be near fatal.
Inadequate intake of Vitamin A, any type of liver disorder and fat malabsorption can all lead to vitamin A deficiency. Certain gastrointestinal diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and Chronic can also cause a Vitamin A deficiency.
The RDA or Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin A is:
900 micrograms (mcg) per day for men.
700 mcg per day for women.
Anything above these numbers can be detrimental to one’s health, especially in the long term.
Excess vitamin A can be extremely harmful. Large doses can often lead to symptoms such as:
-Vomiting
-Nausea
-Blurry vision
-Vertigo
In the long term, it can even cause bone thinning, liver damage, skin irritation, and pain in the joints and bones. In fact, high levels of vitamin A consumed during pregnancy have been linked to congenital abnormalities.
While a vitamin A deficiency is uncommon in most developed countries, many people in poorer countries do not get sufficient amounts of the nutrient. However, pregnant women, lactating mothers, infants, and children are the most vulnerable to this deficiency. Moreover, adults with gastrointestinal diseases that interfere with vitamin A absorption can also be deficient in vitamin A.
Eating vitamin A-rich foods is part of the treatment for moderate cases of vitamin A deficiency. For more severe cases, a doctor may advise consuming extra vitamin A-rich foods and taking vitamin A supplements.
Some Vitamin A-rich foods include:
-Orange fruits and vegetables
-Green leafy vegetables
-Liver
-Fish oils
In addition, a healthcare professional may include a source of healthy fats to improve vitamin A absorption.