There are many benefits of vitamin A for the body. Unfortunately, the fulfillment of vitamin A in Indonesia is still lacking. This makes the Indonesian government continue to carry out vitamin A months every February and August.
In order to meet the needs of vitamin A, especially from an early age (children’s age), it will generally be given in the form of supplementation. The dose of vitamin A given is usually quite large because the body can store vitamin A.
Vitamin A that has entered the body will be distributed to adipose tissue, liver and muscles for storage. This means that vitamin A can be reserved. When we don’t get enough vitamin A, the body will take it from these reserves.
So that we know more about the benefits of vitamin A, here is the full review that has been summarized by GGL.
5 Benefits of Vitamin A You Didn’t Know About
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Preventing Night blindness
Lack of vitamin A can cause us to experience a condition called xerophthalmia. Appearance xerophthalmia can lead to blindness if left untreated. One of the signs of xerophthalmia is dry eyes and this can develop into night blindness.
Night blindness or night blindness is a condition when the eye has difficulty seeing in low light conditions. This can cause problems when moving at night and the risk of having an accident on the road.
Generally xerophthalmia It can happen to anyone, including children whose food is less nutritious. That is why we are advised to eat colorful foods, especially those with beta carotene pigments (red or orange) because they are rich in vitamin A.
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Helps the Immune System
Meeting the needs of vitamin A is not only related to eye health. From studies conducted in Indonesia, children who get enough vitamin A are less likely to experience respiratory diseases and diarrhea.
On the other hand, children who experience xerophthalmia due to a mild deficiency of vitamin A are more susceptible to diarrhea and respiratory diseases. Deficiency of vitamin A can also make the immune system decrease and cause us to get sick easily.
This is because vitamin A helps the formation of white blood cells, in particular T both-helper (Th) cells And B-cells. These cells make the body have higher immunity which can help reduce mortality in infants, children and pregnant women.
Also Read:
These are the Benefits of Vitamin C You May Not Know!
Benefits of Sunlight for the Body and Production of Vitamin D
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Overcoming Acne Face
The good effect of vitamin A on facial skin health is unclear. However, vitamin A is widely used as a supplement to treat facial problems such as acne which is quite acute.
Deficiency or lack of vitamin A is said to stimulate more keratin production. This can later cause the dead skin layer to be difficult to remove and trigger blockade. In the end, there is a risk of causing inflammation to cause pimples.
Although vitamin A supplements are often given to treat skin problems, it is not recommended to take them without a doctor’s prescription. So, make sure there is a prescription to minimize the side effects of vitamin A overdose.
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Improves Bone Health
Getting enough vitamin A from food and supplements has been shown to improve bone health. Especially the content of carotene and beta–cryptoxanthin on provitamin A.
Provitamin A, which is obtained from plant foods, is useful for stimulating bone formation activity. Provitamin A which will be converted into vitamin A in the body is good for inhibiting bone loss and bone resorption (osteoclasts).
The daily requirement of vitamin A is 900 mg for men, 700 mg for women, 770 mg for pregnant women, and 1,200-1,300 mg for nursing mothers.
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Support Fetal Growth
Eating foods that contain vitamin A is very important for pregnant women. Because these nutrients are beneficial for the development of fetal organs and maintain the mother’s health condition. So, during pregnancy the risk of health problems can be suppressed.
Unfortunately, consuming too much vitamin A can cause birth defects in the baby. Besides that, it can also trigger poisoning in the liver if continued. That’s why keep in mind the moderation of vitamin A intake, and should only be consumed from whole foods.
To find out more about whether or not vitamin A supplementation is safe during pregnancy, it is recommended to consult with an obstetrician. Because everyone will have different health conditions and their needs are not the same.
Meeting the needs of vitamin A is very important. Especially when it is still in the growth stage or in a state of pregnancy. If this vitamin is not met, the risk of decreased immunity to blindness can occur.
To get the benefits of vitamin A, it is recommended to consume more foods such as yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, and sweet potatoes. Also use the GGL application to monitor calories so that daily nutritional needs are met.