Friday, December 18, 2009

The Wonders of Vitamin A and Beta Carotene

Vitamin A has many different health benefits for our bodies. It helps keep skin smooth, helps ward off cancer, fends off infections, and helps maintain good eyesight. There's ongoing research that suggest Vitamin A can help treat respiratory infections, viral infections, boost immune cells, and reduce complications from cancer treatments. You definitely don't want to be deficient in Vitamin A.

You can get Vitamin A two different ways. Some foods and supplements contain Vitamin A directly. You can also get Vitamin A into your body by consuming foods and supplements rich in carotenes. These are the substances that give vegetables the red, orange, and yellow pigments. The most common form of carotene is beta carotene. Your body can convert these carotenes into Vitamin A whenever it needs to via the liver. Whatever carotenes your body doesn't need to convert to Vitamin A float around your body providing antioxidant protection. What's especially good about carotenes is that your body can't overdose on them, like it can with straight Vitamin A. And, while studies show that most people get enough Vitamin A, there's plenty of evidence that suggests few get enough beta carotene in their diets. That's why you should consume a healthy amount of colorful fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, and cantaloupes.

If you think taking Vitamin A or beta carotene supplements might be right for you, it's always wise to consult a doctor. Vitamin A isn't recommend during pregnancy (excess amounts can cause birth defects) and it can cause serious problems for people with kidney disease.


Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonders-of-Vitamin-A-and-Beta-Carotene&id=3277882

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