We all want to function at our best and it starts at the plate. How and what we eat is a very important element of our overall health. At times, it seems like there is too much information to process about nutrition. It is not helped by the marketing practices of health products. This can lead to confusion and frustration. When we are frustrated, we tend to throw our hands up and quit. We are not going to let you quit. To help you make sense of the sea of information, we will break it down into simplified nuggets.
Today's Nutrition Nugget is about Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is a micro-nutrient. This means the body needs these in very small amounts. Vitamin A is a group of micro-nutrient compounds. This means each compound has a slightly different function in your body. Vitamin A is fat soluble. This means Vitamin A can be stored in the body for future use. Vitamin A is important to the health of your eyes. It also is important to your immune system. Vitamin A also helps in cellular reproduction of skin, hair and bone.
Where We Get Vitamin A
The best source of Vitamin A is in your food. (Remember, your specific diet is a decision best left to you and your qualified health care provider.) Vitamin A is found in both animal and plant sources. Vitamin A is in Diary:
Milks - Cow, Goat and Soy
Cheeses - Blue Cheese, Cheddar, Colby, Goat, Gruyere, Muenster, Neufchatel, Ricotta, Roquefort, and most processed cheese slices
Yogurts
Cottage Cheese
Vitamin A is in Vegetables, Fruits and Nuts:
Leafy Vegetables - Bok Choy, Collard Greens, Kale, Rapini, Red Leaf Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Turnip Greens
Vegetables - Butternut Squash, Carrots, Peas, Pumpkin, Red Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, and Tomatoes
Fruits - Apricots, Cantaloupe, Grapefruit and Mangoes
Nuts - Pistachios
Vitamin A is in Meats and Seafood:
Meats and Animal Products - Animal Livers and Eggs
Fish and Seafood- Bluefin, Bluefish, Clams, Eel, Herring, Mackerel, Oysters, Salmon and Tuna
Vitamin A is in Oils and Fats:
Cod Liver Oil
Remember, getting the best out of your food doesn't require a hefty price tag. Add variety in the sources of your nutrition. When it comes to nutrition there is little difference between fresh, frozen or canned.