Vitamin A is an organic substance that we can get from animal foods. But our bodies' ability to convert beta-carotene into vitamin A enables us to get plenty of it from fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, carrots, butternut squash, dark leafy greens, lettuce, red pepper and cantaloupe.
Vitamin A is essential for the overall health of our bodies. Please read on to know the health benefits of vitamin A.
1. It helps to boost immunity
Vitamin A works to nourish your white blood cells. These are the cells in your body that fight harmful organisms which can cause infection. Vitamin A also helps to fortify your body parts which can serve as the "entry points" of organisms which could be hazardous to your health. These entry points include your eyes, intestinal tracts, urinary tracts and mucous membranes.
2. It nourishes your eyes
Vitamin A works amazingly to allow your eyes to distinguish light from dark. It is also believed to protect your eyes from diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and age related eye diseases.
3. It helps to nourish your bones and teeth
Your body needs vitamin A to be converted into retinoic acid in order to nourish your bones and teeth.
4. It helps to prevent the formation of urinary stones
With the help of vitamin A, your body can prevent the formation of urinary stones or urinary calculi. These solid particles can cause pain when they become stones in the urinary system. Symptoms of urinary stones include difficulty in urinating, penile or testicular pain, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.
5. It helps to prevent Cancer and other degenerative diseases
Vitamin A is a potent antioxidant which helps to cleanse your cells from harmful substances which can cause cancer, cataracts and atherosclerosis.
6. It helps to protect your skin from dryness and psoriasis
As an antioxidant, vitamin A helps to protect your skin from damage by warding off free radicals that cause oxidative stress. It also helps to retain the skin's moisture to protect it from dryness, psoriasis and wrinkling.
