Sources of Vitamin A

 By Madeleine Innocent
Fortunately, there are numerous, healthy, natural sources of vitamin A. Although vitamin A is well known to be essential to a healthy immune system as well as strong bones one of its impressive qualities is largely overlooked. Namely, that in the correct ratios with vitamin D and K2 dental cavities are not only prevented, but can be reversed.

Yes, you heard correctly! I know this is not a well publicized fact, but there is irrefutable evidence that this powerful combination of vitamins can enable our bodies to literally heal cavities. The thing is though, it is crucial to obtain sufficient amounts of each of these 3 vitamins and the ratio of A to D plays a major role.

Vitamin A is stored in the liver, which is capable of storing up to two years of supply to be called on as our bodies need it. It is relatively stable when heated so is not destroyed when cooked, although enzyme destruction probably makes it less bioavailable.

Unfortunately, many people have been misinformed by "popular nutrition" as to exactly what vitamin A is. The scientific term for vitamin A is retinol as its greatest concentrations are in the retinas of the eye. The currently popular theory that retinol can be obtained from fruits and vegetables is a largely misunderstood partial truth.

Retinol has been demonstrated, by the groundbreaking research of Dr. Weston Price a famous pioneer of nutrition, to only be available in animal fat. True, our bodies are able under ideal conditions to convert the carotenes, which are pro vitamin A found in plant matter, into retinol. But not all bodies are able to make the conversion depending on a host of health conditions.

Besides that the conversion has been shown to be perhaps 4 to 1 carotene to retinol at best and perhaps as low as 6 to 1. Hence, it would not only take immense amounts of vegetables to obtain sufficient levels of vitamin A, there is no assurance that conditions are optimal to convert the carotene.

The logical conclusion is that there are a lot of people depending on vegetables for vitamin A that are deficient. I believe the evidence of this is borne out by the exceedingly high levels of degenerative diseases in our times. Weston Price figured the fat soluble vitamins and A in particular to be essential to all biological processes as they act as catalysts. Definitely not something you want to be deficient of!
The highest concentration of retinol, other than retinas, are found in animal organs and there are lesser amounts in egg yolks, butter and shellfish as can be seen in the following list of foods high in vitamin A.

Butter 1 stick 2,113 IU
Egg yolk 147 IU
Beef liver 3 oz 21,134 IU
Shrimp 3 oz 130 IU
Clam 3 oz 300 IU

The Weston Price Foundation, which has done extensive research and teaching in this area recommend 10,000 IU per day. Hence, if you don't like liver it is going to be a struggle to consume enough of the other sources to insure sufficient uptake.

Although I do not generally take nor recommend supplements if you don't want to eat liver, cod liver oil (CLO) is a safe and trustworthy alternative. The best source is real CLO that is made through a process of fermentation as it was traditionally.

Nowadays it is almost exclusively processed by means that pretty well eliminate the vitamin C and D and then synthetic vitamins are put in to replace them. The only source of traditional CLO that I am aware of is at greenpasture.org. They also produce another excellent source in High Vitamin Butter Oil. They are a tad pricey as the processes involved are complex and well monitored to produce a quality product.

The next best thing is commercially produced CLO. Beware though, if you opt for this route, to be careful to insure you are getting what you pay for. There is a very large range of the amount of vitamin A and D in products available. As vitamin A and D work synergistically it is very important to maintain the approximately 10 to 1 ratio of A to D.

Benefits Of Vitamin A In Reducing Melanoma Risk

Promising findings on reducing melanoma risk have come from a new study that has found that one of the benefits of vitamin a supplements might be to offer protection against disfiguring, dangerous and sometimes deadly melanoma. Despite this, researchers are not suggesting you start taking vitamin A supplements, as this nutrient can be dangerous in high doses.

Vitamin A is found naturally in foods like carrots, eggs, milk, liver, spinach and sweet potatoes and plays a key role in our vision, bone health, reproduction, cell division and differentiation as well as helping to manage the immune system.

It's also known to help the skin and mucous membranes stay strong and keep out both bacteria and viruses. Surveys have found that most Americans get enough vitamin A in the diet, and deficiencies in this country are rare.

The researchers looking for a link between vitamin A and melanoma examined melanoma risk for 69,635 subjects who were 62 years old on average. After a period of six years, 566 had been diagnosed with melanoma.

For the 59,000 subjects who had never taken vitamin A supplements there were 506 melanomas, but for the 5,800 who were taking supplements and had used them regularly over the past decade, there were just 28 cases.

In fact, those who got additional vitamin A through supplements had almost a 40% less chance to be diagnosed with melanoma as those who didn't take such supplements.

The strange thing is, it was only the supplements that lowered the risk, not getting the nutrient from foods.
The reduced risk was more significant in women compared to men, and the protection was greatest in parts of the body that have frequent exposure to the rays of the sun. Women may benefit more than men because they are more susceptible to skin damage from UV radiation than men are.

The researchers are emphatic that the reduction in melanoma was associated with the supplements not the nutrient obtained from the diet. They know this because the protective benefits were only seen in those who were taking on board more vitamin A than can be found in commercially available multivitamin formulas.

And it was only the vitamin A, not carotenoids that brought the lower risk of melanoma. A carotenoid is a precursor (converted by the body as needed) to vitamin A - beta-carotene or lycopene may be names you know.

Other experts, not involved in the work, aren't surprised that vitamin A offers some protection against melanoma. The thing is, experts are quick to warn that the findings are preliminary and that excessive amounts vitamin A is a dangerous thing; it can bring serious risks such as birth defects, lower bone mineral density or liver toxicity, as well as troublesome symptoms like dry skin or hair loss.

The National Institutes of Health recommends a daily intake of 700 micrograms of vitamin A for women and 900 micrograms for men. Taking over 2,800 micrograms can lead to toxic symptoms.

Researchers speculate that supplements of this nutrient might have a place in high risk patients such as those who are fair skinned, have a history of sunburn or a lot of moles on their skin. For the rest of us, if you're concerned about skin cancer, be smart about the sun and supplement with a multivitamin that has the benefits of vitamin A as one of many nutrients. These people should also avoid the sun, use sun protection consistently and have an annual skin exam by a dermatologist.

Facts About Vitamins - Vitamin A (Retinol)

 By Jason Pitcher
Vitamin A - also called Retinol - is an important dietary supplement. It aids eyesight and bone formation, is essential to maintain the lining of the digestive tract and also helps in keeping the eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist. Vitamin A is found in certain foods but also can be derived in the body from what are known as carotenes. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin.

How much do we need? The current UK RNI (reference nutrient intake) for vitamin A for an adult woman is 600 - 700 micrograms (mcgs), this rises for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. For an adult male 700mcgs is recommended. In the US the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) for women is 800mcgs and 1000mcgs for men
And if we don't get enough? Whilst a deficiency of vitamin A is rare it can lead to symptoms which may include; eye problems, weight loss, poor skin condition, vulnerability to coughs colds, diarrhoea and impaired growth.

And too much? Symptoms of too much may include dizziness, nausea, impaired growth and hair loss.
Who needs extra? People who are on a low fat diet may need supplementation, if your diet is low in fresh fruit and veg and high in processed refined food you're likely to have low levels of vitamin A. The same goes for people who consume more than modest amounts of alcohol or live or work in a polluted area.
Sources of vitamin A include:

- margarine
- butter
- cheddar cheese
- liver
- boiled eggs
- full fat milk
- smoked mackerel
Foods that contain carotenes include:
- sweet potato
- carrots
- spinach
- red pepper
- broccoli

Vitamin A - A Powerful Penis Nutrient

 By John Dugan
If you want to improve your sexual and penis health, Vitamin A is a powerful vitamin and antioxidant. It is important to make sure you are getting enough of this nutrient. While many foods in our diet contain high amounts of Vitamin A (including animal liver, dandelion greens, carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes) many sources are absorbed to varying degrees. To increase this important penis nutrient, talk with a nutritionist or doctor about the various forms it is available in, such as retinoids and carotenoids. However Vitamin A can also be toxic when ingested in high doses, as it accumulates in the fat cells, so always use supplements with caution, making sure that you follow all instructions.

Immune Function
When trying to keep away colds and flu's, or fighting STI's, maintaining your level of Vitamin A is important to keep your immune system up and running. Studies show that a deficiency in Vitamin A reduces immune function and makes men more prone to infections from viruses, parasites and bacteria. According to one clinical study published in the Annual Review of Nutrition by the University of California in 2001, it was noted that infants and young children have a higher risk of mortality from infection when they are deficient in Vitamin A. This is also true in adults when Vitamin A levels are low; adults can have a slower recover rate. Increasing Vitamin A through the diet and supplementation is important for increasing the production of B and T cells in the body. This in turn will fight against disease-causing pathogens. If suffering from any STI's, prostate infections, or skin breakout, take Vitamin A as soon as possible.

Sexual Health
Improving sexual function, virility, and enjoyment is a major reason for many men to seek out supplements and vitamins. Men have used Vitamin A, and its many forms such as lycopene and carotene, for many years, to improve sexual health and reduce the risk of prostate cancer. While the debate is still going on whether or not Vitamin A precursors are still useful or safe in preventing prostate cancer, new research shows that they may still have a role to play in erectile dysfunction. During March 2012 the Yanan University Affiliated Hospital in China, published a study in the medical journal Die Pharmazie. This study found that Lycopene significantly reduced erectile dysfunction during the study, through affecting blood sugars, improving antioxidant status and increasing nitric oxide gas in the smooth muscle of the penis arteries, which increased blood flow, therefore providing firmer erections.

Skin Health
Vitamin A has a long and illustrious history in the prevention and treatment of skin problems. It is one of the primary treatments for acne and psoriasis, and as an antioxidant may also reduce signs of aging. A study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in 2012 found two different Vitamin A cremes were effective in reducing photo damage, wrinkles, skin tone, skin firmness and pigmentation in thirty-four human participants. Around the world Vitamin A is also recommended as a topical ingredient for preventing skin cancer.
So when you need your skin cells to heal faster, or you just want to restore youth and vigor back into your skin tissues, Vitamin A is an effective natural treatment to explore. Take Vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids or retinoids) as an oral supplements to increase cell differentiation and wound healing throughout the entire body, and use Vitamin A cremes locally to improve skin health, youth and integrity.

Penis health cremes
Penis health cremes containing therapeutic levels of Vitamin A may be beneficial for a wide range of applications. When the penis skin becomes dry, chaffed, damaged, irritated or broken, Vitamin A has a soothing and healing effect. It is involved with inflammatory reactions, improves wound healing, and fights infections of many kinds. Specialist products (most professionals recommend Man1Man oil) often combine Vitamin A with other active ingredients to provide a synergistic and holistic effect. Other beneficial active ingredients, such as Shea Butter, vitamin C, E and Alpha Lipoic Acid, are used to improve sexual health, increase male hormones, support skin integrity and restore nerve function.