Vitamin A

Written by Lone Parenting Diet Advisor

Vitamin A and carotene are found in abundance in both animal and vegetable food sources. There is a good range of vitamin A in fruits and vegetables.

The animal source is for Vitamin A is in two parts, retinol and dehydroretinol. The vegetable source for Vitamin A is divided into four groups which are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, gamma-carotene and crypto-carotene.

The body can actually manufacture its own Vitamin A with enough beta-carotene available in the body.

The main requirement of Vitamin A is for night vision, and healthy skin. It does also help the bodies immune system, and due to its unique antioxidants it acts as a protection against pollution and cancer formation from other diseases.

Your sense of taste is also enhanced with Vitamin A, not to mention assisting the digestive and urinary tract.

Vitamin A Food Groups and Sources

Bread Cereal and Pulse

There are no sources of Vitamin A found within the Bread, Cereal and Pulse food group. Vitamin A can still be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet though due to the other food groups having a wide range of Vitamin A sources available.

Fresh Fruits

There are very good sources of Vitamin A found within these fruits in the Fresh Fruits food group. Vitamin A can be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet with ease because fruit has such a wide range and variety in the local supermarkets.

• Apricots
• Mandarin Oranges
• Mangoes
• Plums
• Watermelons

Fresh Vegetables

There are very good sources of Vitamin A found within these vegetables in the Fresh Vegetables food group. Vitamin A can be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet with ease due to the amount of choices and availability with vegetables nowadays.

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Peas
• Red peppers
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Turnip

Meat and Poultry

There are extremely rich sources of Vitamin A found within these meats in the Meat and Poultry food group. Vitamin A can be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet with ease nowadays to to the wide range of meat and poultry available to us through supermarkets.

• Braised Beef
• Liver
• Chicken
• Turkey

Fish and Seafood

There is a limited source of Vitamin A found within the Fish and Seafood food group. Vitamin A can still be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet though due to the other food groups having a wide range of Vitamin A sources available.

• Mackerel

Dairy Produce

There is a limited source of Vitamin A found within the Dairy Produce food group. Vitamin A can still be incorporated into a healthy and well balanced diet though due to the other food groups having a wide range of Vitamin A sources available.

• Milk (Skimmed or Semi Skimmed is best)