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How much do you know about your Vitamin A intake? Do you know which form is best for your body?
Well-respected physician Andrew Weil recommends 20,000 I.U. of supplemental vitamin A. But be careful to ingest the right kind, otherwise you could unintentionally create a toxic situation.
To address concerns about vitamin A toxicity, first understand that vitamin A exists in many forms. Toxicity is a problem if you ingest too much of the animal form . Toxicity will not occur if you focus on consuming the plant-derived beta-carotene, as directed by Dr. Weil.
According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, no more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A should be taken per day. This limit is set for the pre-formed Vitamin A found in animals, which may be found in foods and dietary supplements like palmitate, acetate or fish liver oil.
Vitamin A is essential for the body but if toxicity results from an dramatic surplus in the system, it may manifest as hair loss, confusion, liver damage, and bone loss.
Ingest more vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, as well as other mixed carotenoids. These forms allow the body to make all the vitamin A it needs from beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is not toxic. Unlike pre-formed vitamin A, beta-carotene will not accumulate in the system and is water-soluble.
To get the vitamin A your body needs, take a supplement that for 15,000 I.U. of mixed carotenoids optimal benefits. It is still important to eat the fruits and vegetables that provide antioxidant protection, but supplementation helps insure your body against any dietary gaps. Continue eating tomatoes, carrots, and leafy greens. Be sure to read your food labels carefully. Do your system a favor by becoming more aware; purchase only food products that include lycopene and lutein rather than pre-formed vitamin A.
Read the full article here: How Much Vitamin A is Safe?
