Vitamin A
Main functions
Vitamin A is necessary for the function of light-sensitive nerve cells (photoreceptors) in the eye’s retina.Therefore Vitamin A is essential normal and night vision. It also helps keep the skin and the lining of the lungs, intestine, and urinary tract healthy and is essential for immune function, carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, are pigments in vegetables that give them their yellow, orange or red color.
How much do I need?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means you don’t need it every day because any of the vitamin your body doesn’t need immediately is stored for future use.
You should be able to get all the vitamin A you need from your daily diet. This is:
0.7 mg a day for men
0.6 mg a day for women
Good Food Sources
Milk, cheese, eggs, liver, oily fish, taramasalata, beta carotene(and other caroteniods) green, yellow & orange fruits & vegetables and fruit, especially carrots, tomatoes, mangoes, apricots sweet potato, spinach, apricots, peach, parsley, spinach pumpkin, tomato puree, cantaloupe melons and broccoli, kale,brussels sprouts, butternut squash.
Potential deficiency signs & symptoms
Dryness, itching, tiredness & redness of the eyes; Poor night vision, gradual loss of sight; Dry, rough, itchy skin with rash, acne, boils; Dry, brittle hair and nails, scaly scalp; Loss of sense of smell, taste and appetite; Defective teeth and gums; Poor growth; Fatigue; Headaches; Anaemia; Increased vulnerability to infections, skin infections; Impaired reproduction and fertility.
What might happen if you take too much?
Some research suggests that having more than an average of 1.5mg per day of vitamin A over many years may affect your bones and make them more likely to fracture when you’re older.
UrBod - Latest News
UrBod Corporate health team invited to present at another well being event.
Sep 2010 | Nutritionist LondonWell done to the Corporate health team at UrBod. We have been invited to present at world leading City of London based investment management business. The well being event will be at the end of September 2010. More details to follow watch this space.
UrBod Corporate Health Team agree to present well being workshops in the City of London
Jul 2010 | Nutritionist London
UrBod Nutrition Corporate health team have agreed another series of workshops with a second global investment bank.
Urbod agree series of talks with major global bank
Jul 2010 | Nutritionist LondonWe are please to announce that the UrBod Nutrition Corporate health team have agreed another series of workshops with a global investment bank to run over the autumn.
Introducing another new team member
Jul 2010 | Nutritionist LondonIt's great news, we would like to introduce another new team member Lisa Chothia. Lisa is a Nutritionist & NLP (Well-being) Practitioner and will work in our London clinics. Lisa will form the third team member of the UrBod Corporate Health.
Introducing a new team member
Jul 2010 | Nutritionist LondonWe are pleased to announce a new member of the UrBod Corporate Health team Sabra Ralph. We are very excited to have Sabra on board and look forward to working with her in the future.
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