Vitamin A for Healthy Eyes

Written by Kadie Brooke

We need Vitamin A for vision (particularly night vision), immunity, reproductory and embryo development, bone formation, skin and cellular health and antioxidant activity.

Vitamin A can be found in two principal forms; retinal and carotene. Vitamin A is fat soluble meaning that the amount absorbed by the body depends greatly on the amount of lipids, or fats ingested with it.

Zinc is required to enable absorption, transportation, synthesis and metabolising of Vit A. Without zinc and ‘good’ fats, you may experience vitamin A deficiencies.

According to various studies, taking more than the recommended daily amount of 1.5mg/day of Vit A can have a toxic effect on the body. Excessive amounts cannot be easily excreted due to its fat-soluble nature. 

To ensure you do not experience the toxic effect of too much Vitamin A, take into account the amount of Vit A you consume through both food and supplements and ensure you get adequate Vitamin D.

Vitamin A-rich foods in include Liver and cod liver oil, dandelion greens, carrot, broccoli leaf, sweet potato, butter, kale, spinach, pumpkin, collard greens, cheddar cheese, cantaloupe melon, egg, apricot, papaya, mango, pea, broccoli and milk.