The importance of vitamin A to the human body
Vitamin A plays a key role in maintaining the body’s health and protecting it from infection. It helps to enhance immune system performance, resistance to bacteria and pathogenic infections. White blood cells are the first line of defense to protect the body from disease. It protects the eyes from weakness and protects the eyes from diseases. It protects the mucous membranes and skin cells from damage, strengthens the structure of the bones, teeth and hair, and protects the body from the oxidation of free radicals in the body because it is one of the most important antioxidants resistant to cancer Such as stomach cancer, esophagus, throat, neck, lung, and some chronic diseases in the body. It also prevents the formation of gravel in the urinary tract, in addition to reducing the proportion of harmful cholesterol in the blood and rapidly renewing dead cells.
Effect of vitamin A deficiency in the body
The lack of vitamin A in the body leads to many health problems, including: night blindness, which is the difficulty of vision during the night, which may increase severity to cause total loss of vision, weaken the immunity of the body and cause an increase in the chance of diseases such as measles, and makes nails fragile fragile, The head causes growth retardation, swelling of the spleen and liver, and lack of it causes itching in the eyelids.
On the other hand, increased consumption of vitamin A causes serious problems such as hair loss, diarrhea, anemia, bone fractures, fatigue, insomnia, fever, dry skin, drowsiness, Loss of appetite, weight loss, etc., so it is necessary to take his doses carefully so as not to lead to poisoning the body.
The body’s need for vitamin A.
Doctors recommend giving children between the ages of 6 months to 12 months the amount of 400 micrograms a day, while children and adults between the ages of 12 to 70 years should be given about 900 micrograms a day.
Sources of vitamin A in food
Vitamin A is found in many plant and animal foods, including:
- Asparagus.
- Whale liver oil and fish oil.
- Cow liver and calf.
- Wild Dandelion.
- Islands.
- Leafy vegetables: spinach, parsley, lettuce, mint.
- yolk.
- Fruits of all kinds: peaches, apricots, mangoes, melons, papaya, oranges, peaches, and bananas.
- Broccoli, peas, turnips, red peppers, cabbage, beans and cabbage.
- Pumpkin.
- sweet potato.
- Seaweed.
- Full-fat milk, yogurt and hard yellow cheese.
- Tomato juice.
- Beef.
- Nuts of all kinds, such as almonds and walnuts.
- Oats.