Vitamin A Benefits
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Vitamin A's benefits include:
- Vitamin A helps the immune system fight off infection
Vitamin A has a beneficial effect on the immune system, as it enhances resistance to many types of infections and disease, especially of the respiratory tract. This is partly due to its effect on the mucous membranes (ensuring they are moist and can easily fend off invading pathogens) and partly due to its antioxidant effects (removes free radicals before they can cause any damage). - Vitamin A helps with respiratory illnesses
Numerous studies show that people who suffer from asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis (or any other infection of the upper respiratory tract, especially if it is chronic) improve significantly and report much less incidence of infection and severity of symptoms associated with their illness when they are given vitamin A supplements. Studies also show that vitamin A builds resistance to the respiratory infections and illness and reduces them. - Vitamin A reduces hay fever and associated allergies
Studies have shown that people who suffer from allergic rhinnitis (or hayfever, which can happen all year-round, not just in spring) report a significant drop in their symptoms (including allergies) when they are supplemented with vitamin A. - Vitamin A assists in cell growth and bone formation
Vitamin A is needed to help the body cells repair, grow properly and to keep bones and teeth strong and healthy.
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin A is vitally important for maintaining healthy eyesight
- Vitamin A prevents heart disease
Research shows that people who eat foods high in vitamin A (and betacarotene) have a much lowered risk for developing any type of heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high triglycerides) and this reduces the risk for heart attack or stroke. - Vitamin A is necessary for good eyesight
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin A is vitally important for maintaining healthy eyesight. There are high concentrations of vitamin A in the retina of the eye and also other parts of the eye. Research also shows that vitamin A is required to ensure the formation of visual purple in the eyes, which enables the eyes to view a number of colours. - Vitamin A helps with night blindness
Vitamin A helps the eyes see better in the dark because higher (and healthy) levels of vitamin A in the eyes (and in particular in the retina) help the eyes see better in the dark and prevent night blindness. - Vitamin A may prevent cataracts
Vitamin A (and betacarotene) help to neutralise the free radicals which could possibly damage the lens of the eye and cause cataracts. - Vitamin A may prevent macular degeneration
Vitamin A (together with vitamin C and vitamin E) is so vital for preventing or slowing down the development of progression of macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness.