Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene
General: Antioxidant (cancer prevention), lowers cholesterol, slows aging, eliminates wrinkles, clears age spots, help metabolize protein,
Sources: Fish liver oil, animal liver, green & yellow fruits and vegetables (apricot, asparagus, beet green, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots), garlic, spinach, red peppers, yellow squash. Animal sources are up to six times stronger than vegetable sources.
Beta-carotene can only be converted to vitamin A if mixed with bile salts. This means carrot juice should be taken with some fat to bring out the bile from gallbladder to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A.
Good For: Eyes, skin (acne), immune system, GI ulcers, mucous membranes, bone formation, teeth, cold, flu, kidney infection, bladder, lung
Deficiency: Dry hair, dry skin, dry eye, poor growth, night blindness, ear abscesses, insomnia, fatigue, infertility, weak immune system (sinusitis, pneumonia, frequent colds, respiratory infections), skin disorder (acne, etc), weight loss
Toxicity: Taking over 100,000 iu daily for a long time can cause toxicity with the following symptoms: abdominal pain, amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation) enlargement of liver and/or spleen, GI tract disturbances, hair loss, itching, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, water on the brain, elevated liver enzymes, small cracks and scales on the lips and the corners of mouth, birth defect.
Comments: Antibiotics, laxatives and some cholesterol-lowering drugs interfere with vitamin A absorption. Pregnant women and people with liver disease should not take more than 10,000 iu daily. People with diabetes and hypothyroidism should not consume large amounts of beta-carotene.