THE NATURAL HEALING POWER OF VITAMIN A AND BETA-CAROTENE

While vitamin A may be far from being a world-wide panacea, it is high on the list of vital nutrients. In recent years numerous medical research studies have revealed that certain fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene can help prevent cancer; cataracts; fight heart disease; strengthen the immune system; protect your skin from wrinkles; maintain good vision and prevent certain eye disorders such as night blindness; speed up the effective healing of wounds; eliminate acne and boils; and much more. While the research continues, there is no doubt that the natural wonders of Vitamin A, especially in the form of beta-carotene, is essential to the maintenance of good health.

There are two forms of Vitamin A—preformed Vitamin A or retinol is found only in foods of animal origin and provitamin A or carotene is found in foods of both plant and animal origin. It’s important to know the difference because preformed vitamin A can be toxic in large enough amounts over a long period of time. It builds up in the liver and cannot be excreted from the body in any significant amount. Toxicity can result from prolonged daily doses that exceed 50,000 IU in adults and children. The symptoms of a vitamin A overdose include nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, loss of hair, dry itching skin, and drowsiness. The toxicity will clear up in a few days if the excessive intake is halted. Overdoses of Vitamin A (retinol) can be caused by eating an excessive amount of animal liver over an extended period of time, but is more commonly due to high doses of vitamin supplements.