In colored plants (carrots, tomatoes,...), vitamin A is found in the form of provitamin, beta-carotene, which our body converts into vitamin A or retinol.
The functions of vitamin A are:
- Creation of vision pigments in the retina (Retina). Lack of vitamin A reduces vision at night ("chicken blindness").
- Creation and maintenance of cells that cover the skin, eyes, mouth and internal organs. Due to the lack of vitamin A, the skin on the face, and especially the mucous membrane that covers the eye, dries up and becomes brittle. A lack of vitamin A can lead to complete blindness, which is what happens to many children from third world countries.
– Preventing the formation of cancerous tumors thanks to its antioxidant effect.
Plant provitamin (carotene) has the same effect.
Excessive use of vitamin A is toxic to humans. For this reason, Arctic hunters are recommended not to eat the liver of foxes and polar bears, in which a large amount of vitamin A accumulates. Even in the instructions for pharmaceutical preparations of vitamin A, it is underlined that exceeding the prescribed dose is dangerous. Symptoms of poisoning (hypervitaminosis) are: fatigue, nervousness, bone pain, decalcification, headache, fainting. A plant-based diet greatly facilitates our body's needs for vitamin A, in the form of provitamin carotene. Carotene (plant provitamin A) has a preventive effect against cancer; in addition, there is no risk of overdose because the body produces the necessary vitamin A from it.
Together with vitamin C, vitamin A fights infections. It earned the title of the infection vitamin long before that title was taken away by vitamin C. The role of vitamin A is to strengthen the immune system. The whole process takes place in the lining of the stomach and intestines. The best combination for suppressing the first signs of infection is the synergy of vitamin A with vitamin C. Taking vitamin A together with direct application to the skin slows down the appearance of herpes. You can read more about vitamin C HERE.
VITAMIN A
Food Quantity in mg per 100 g
Alpha alpha 5300
Carrot 4500
Spinach 4300
Turnip 3000
Mango 1600
Parsley 1200
Source: Healthy Nutrition, Dr. George Pamplona Roger
