Hey, there!
Having a rough day?
Well, we all have our good and bad days?
Some are particularly harsh when we don’t feel like getting out of bed.
Blame it on those Monday Blues or a weekend party but there are definitely days we don’t
want to lift a finger.
If you feel under the weather once in a while, it is normal.
But if these blues start becoming a common occurrence, your body could be sending signals
that something is wrong.
Our body needs several nutrients and if it lacks any one of them, it is going to act
up.
Vitamin A is one such nutrient that often gets ignored.
In today’s video, we’ll be discussing the 7 signs your body needs more Vitamin A.
Is it dry skin?
Or constant thirst?
Watch the video to find out!
Why is Vitamin A important?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient.
Meaning your body stores vitamin A in the fatty tissues.
Vitamin A is necessary for the optimal functioning of the body, such as stronger immunity, reproduction,
vision, and healthy skin.
Our body converts carotenoids present in fruits and vegetables into Vitamin A and stores it
in fatty tissues.
Without an adequate amount of Vitamin A, our body would struggle in maintaining healthy
skin, strong immunity, and reproductive health.
Sources of Vitamin A
Wondering what you should eat to get your daily dosage of Vitamin A?
Experts recommend including foods rich in Vitamin A to maintain healthy lungs, heart,
kidneys, and other vital organs.
A healthy adult needs 700-900 micrograms of Vitamin A per day.
Foods contain two types of Vitamin A- provitamin A and preformed vitamin A. The preformed type
is retinol and is found in dairy products, eggs, meat, and fish.
Provitamin A, known as beta carotene, is found in brightly colored foods.
The next time you go grocery shopping, fill your cart with cantaloupes, carrots, apricots,
pumpkin, pink grapefruit, winter squash, sweet potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, and
of course- Broccoli!
If you hate salads, sneak these nutritious veggies and fruits in your sandwiches, pasta,
or noodles.
Spaghetti sauteed with a generous helping of broccoli and carrots is not only delicious
but nutrition-dense too!
Now that you know what foods to eat to get your daily supply of Vitamin A, it’s time
we move on and learn more about the early signs of Vitamin A deficiency.
#1 Dry Skin, Hair and Eyes
Are you battling dry skin and dandruff issues constantly?
Or have you been feeling the brunt of dry eyes?
These could be the signs of Vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin A is an important nutrient to maintain healthy skin.
It helps skin cells fight off inflammation and repair themselves.
Our body replaces the top skin layer every two weeks but the lack of Vitamin A can cause
disruption.
This leads to a number of skin issues like dryness, dandruff, and even eczema.
Studies have indicated that there may be a link between the deficiency of Vitamin A and
Eczema.
A 12-week study was conducted by researchers to understand the relationship between Eczema
and Vitamin A. It was observed that when patients with chronic eczema were given 10-40 milligrams
of a prescribed Vitamin A medication every day, there was a 53% reduction in the eczema
symptoms.
Another issue caused by a lack of Vitamin A is dry eyes.
Although dry eyes can be caused by a number of factors- including dry weather and fatigue,
Vitamin A deficiency can be a cause too.
Dry eyes mean the inability to produce tears.
A study observed that dry eyes were reduced by 63% among kids who took Vitamin A supplements
for a continuous period of 16 months.
#2 Infertility
If you are facing difficulties conceiving, there are chances it could be Vitamin A deficiency
causing infertility issues.
Vitamin A is needed for the healthy functioning of the reproductive system in men and women.
Oxidative stress in the body has been found to be a prime reason behind infertility in
men.
Vitamin A has antioxidative effects on the body, which can reduce oxidative stress.
Another study established a direct link between miscarriages and Vitamin A deficiency.
It was found that women who had frequent miscarriages had significantly lower levels of Vitamin
A.
#3 Frequent Infections
Do you get infections frequently?
Especially chest and throat infections?
Your immunity could be compromised and lack of Vitamin A could be the reason.
Vitamin A produces retinoids, which play a significant role in the production of lymphocytes
and T cells.
Lymphocytes and T cells are very important to build strong immunity.
If your body is deficient in Vitamin A, it is going to find it harder to fight off infections.
#4 Unhealthy Skin Prone to Acne Breakouts
If you are constantly struggling with acne breakouts, there are chances Vitamin A deficiency
could be the cause.
Various studies have found links between acne breakouts and low levels of Vitamin A.
Experts believe that Vitamin A might help in treating acne since it fights inflammation
and promotes skin development.
A study conducted on people suffering from acne breakouts showed that there was a 50%
reduction when topical Vitamin A creams were applied.
You should also be best friends with dark green leafy vegetables if you want clear skin!
Before we move ahead, here’s a video you might be interested in.
Watch this video to know 8 Warning Signs That Your Body Is Low On Essential Vitamins.
#5 Night Blindness
Do you find it hard to see in dim light?
It might be time to talk to your doctor.
Severe Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness.
Night blindness occurs when eyes lose their ability to adjust to dim light.
As a result, a person with night blindness sees everything as pitch black in low light
situations.
Night blindness can be particularly dangerous if it is undiagnosed.
Driving at night would be very risky for a person with night blindness.
Our retina contains rod cells that work as photoreceptors even in dim light.
These rod cells are made up of a receptor protein synthesized from Vitamin A. Lack of
Vitamin A hinders the optimal functioning of rod cells resulting in night blindness.
If left untreated, night blindness can progress into permanent vision loss.
#6 Slow Wound Healing
Do you bruise very often and they take a long time to heal?
Slow wound healing can be a sign that your body needs more Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps
in the production of collagen, which is an essential component of skin healing.
A study on elderly men found that wound size reduced by 50% when topical Vitamin A creams
were applied.
#7 Stunted Growth
Vitamin A is all the more essential for growing children as its deficiency can lead to stunted
growth.
There have been studies showing Vitamin A supplements can improve growth in children.
To find the truth, another study was conducted on 1000 Indonesian children, who were diagnosed
with Vitamin A deficiency.
It was recorded that children who took a high dosage of Vitamin A supplements, in a span
of four months, grew 0.15 inches taller than those who were on placebo.
Vitamin A Toxicity
Just like anything too much can be harmful, too much Vitamin A can also be dangerous for
you.
Vitamin A toxicity is actually a thing!
Unlike Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C, which is a water-soluble nutrient, Vitamin A is
fat-soluble.
This means your body stores Vitamin A in fatty tissues.
When you take too much Vitamin B and C, they get flushed from your body through urine.
But Vitamin A gets stored in the liver and can lead to a condition called Hypervitaminosis
A or Vitamin A toxicity.
Hypervitaminosis A is characterized by symptoms like swelling of bones, vision changes, mouth
ulcers, and dry rough skin.
If you are a pregnant woman, always consult your health care provider before taking Vitamin
A supplements.
Too much of it can cause birth defects.
Did you like this video?
Which is your favorite way to include Vitamin A in your diet?
Let us know in the comments below.