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While wearing cosmetics and rocking the latest fashions can definitely help you to fine tune your appearance, remember that looking your best means taking care of your body from the inside out. Giving your body the vitamins it needs is a great way to start. One especially awesome beauty-boosting vitamin is vitamin A. Vitamin A is an easy-to-get essential vitamin that can help keep some of your favorite facial features looking and working their best.
Benefits
Among other benefits, vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy eyes and teeth. Have a killer come-hither stare? Maintain that glamorous gaze by getting your vitamin A. Vitamin A works within your body to help your eyesight stay sharp. Does your smile light up a room? Preserve those pearly whites by adding vitamin A to your regular tooth care regimen. Vitamin A helps keep teeth strong. Stronger teeth can mean fewer cavities and fewer trips to the dentist.
Sources
Vitamin A exists naturally in many common foods. You can also purchase processed foods that are fortified with extra vitamin A. Vitamin A comes in two forms. Preformed vitamin A exists in animal products like eggs, whole milk, liver, cod, halibut, cheese and chicken. Provitamin A carotenoids exist in fruits and vegetables like carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin, pink grapefruit, squash and apricots. If you have a hard time getting enough vitamin A in your daily diet, ask your doctor about boosting your intake with over-the-counter vitamin A supplements.
Deficiencies
Letting your vitamin A levels fall too low can have a negative impact on your eyesight and your teeth. If you have a hard time seeing in the dark, you may need more than corrective lenses. According to MedlinePlus, reduced night vision is one of the first signs of a vitamin A deficiency. Without enough vitamin A your cornea and your retina can become dry and damaged, which can diminish your vision. Low vitamin A levels can also cause your teeth to weaken, which can lead to more painful, style-cramping cavities.
Intake
While you do want your body to have an adequate amount of vitamin A, taking too much vitamin A may do more harm than good. Excessive amounts of the vitamin A compound beta-carotene can give your skin a yellow or orange hue. If you want to avoid looking like you have a fake tan, try to get your daily recommended value of vitamin A without going overboard. MedlinePlus suggests aiming for about 700 mcg of vitamin A each day if you are over the age of 14. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need more. If you are not sure exactly how much vitamin A your body needs, check with your doctor.
