Vitamin A is also known as retinol. There are two active units in this vitamin, which are split by the body. There are many natural sources of vitamin A, but saying that, not everyone is getting their RDA of it. By eating foods that contain vitamin A and carotene, one can achieve their RDA. A balanced diet is key and therefore not much supplementation is needed. Be careful that although vitamin A is necessary for our health, too much of it can become toxic. Natural sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, boiled kale, mangoes, green turnips, raw spinach, papaya, red bell peppers, apricots, cantaloupe, fat free milk, romaine, large eggs, whole milk, raw tomatoes, broccoli, green bell peppers and oranges.

It is important to consume raw vegetables and fruits and steam or boil the vegetables rather than fry them as fat is added and much of the vitamin A is lost. The RDA of vitamin A can be calculated per serving of food and it is a requirement in many countries to label their foods with the necessary nutritional information that shows RDA per serving and the amount of each vitamin and mineral present in the whole food. For vitamin A 10% of the RDA is a good source of food and anything more than that is considered, high or excellent in quality. These rules are according to United States food regulations.

The benefits of vitamin A include things such as helping eyesight. It helps your eyes adjust to the different light and dark shades. It also keeps your skin and mucous membranes moist. This is in addition to it having anti oxidant values.

Nowadays it is very common to see vitamin A in other manufactured products. Apart from obvious capsules that are there for supplementary purposes, there exist many other products such as vitamin A enriched milk, margarine, cereal and other foods that are fortified. These are helpful because natural sources of vitamin A are crucial, but cooking it in any fashion destroys the goodness of it. It is therefore important that enriched foods exist so humans can still acquire their RDA of vitamin A.

Because this vitamin is cheap to harvest and is grown and cultivated all around the world, it is easy to see why it has become so popular. Used for medicinal and health benefits, it shows how much it has become part of our lives. It is recommended to take a certain amount of vitamins and minerals everyday to help our immune system stay working at 100%. It is also advised not to overdose on certain vitamins and minerals as they may cause serious side effects and affect certain bodily processes.

If you are unsure about taking supplements, contact your doctor or pharmacist. He or she can advise you on the best plan of action and give you more information about specific vitamins and minerals. It is advised to seek consultation especially if you are pregnant or currently taking any medication as this can affect the intake of supplements. Go to a registered pharmacy and make sure you read all the instructions on dosage and follow them strictly. More information can be found on the Internet too.