Vitamin A

Vitamins, Health & Weight Loss
Good diet nutrition is essential for optimum health – including efficient metabolism, stable blood sugar levels and appetite, all of which affect weight control and how fast we lose weight. Vitamins play an essential role in diet nutrition and weight control.

Vitamin A

There are two basic types of Vitamin A.
Retinol – from animal products
Beta-carotene – from fruit and vegetables

How Vitamin A helps

Keeps eyes healthy
Good for bones, teeth, gums and hair
Protects against skin and respiratory infections
Protects against cancer

Good food sources of Vitamin A

As retinol:
liver, free range eggs, cheese, salmon, mackerel, herring.
As carotene:
carrots, spring greens, sweet potato, spinach, apricots, tomatoes, marrow, oranges, peaches, melons.

Enemies:
High temperatures, especially frying. Preservatives. Drying.

Deficiency symptoms of Vitamin A

Scaly skin and scalp
Dry brittle hair
Persistent headaches
Itching eyes
Reduced night vision
Increase in infections.

Recommended daily allowance for Vitamin A

US RDA: 5,000 IU
EU RDA: 2,700 IU (800mcg)

The Importance of a Balanced Diet
If you have been a regular follower of fad diets, regular fasting, single food diets, yo-yo dieting or diet/weight loss pills, you may already be deficient in vitamins and minerals. This may be why you find it difficult to lose weight, or sustain weight loss in the long term.

Solution: Follow a balanced diet that offers slow steady weight loss and includes advice on exercise. Anne Collins Weight Loss Diet Program is a good choice.