Vitamin A: Nature's Little Powerhouse

Vitamin A is known as a powerhouse because of instead of just a few benefits it is essential for a whole range of functions in the body.

Some benefits of Vitamin A:
Healthy skin
Resistance to colds
Keeps mucous membranes moist
Immunity booster
Helps prevent excessive menstrual bleeding
Aids in wound healing
Detoxifies certain chemicals
Counters effects of stress

But Vitamin A is best known for its role in eye health. A deficiency in Vitamin A can lead to night blindness and corneal scarring. But more importantly, a deficiency of this little powerhouse vitamin may lead to glaucoma.

Vitamin A is also necessary for the epithelial lining of the intestines and may help in the treatment of Crohn's disease, a deterioration of the bowel. Crohn's patients were given high doses of Vitamin A and saw marked improvements in bowel movements, less diarrhea, and since Vitamin A is important for the health of the lining of the bowels, studies indicate it could also prevent the small holes caused by Crohn's from becoming larger holes.

Vitamin A also helps in the regeneration of white blood cells. A study was conducted on lab animals and found those given high doses of Vitamin A regenerated white blood cells much faster after being exposed to radiation than those who were not given Vitamin A before exposure.

It's also been discovered that children who lack adequate amounts of Vitamin A are prone to infant tooth decay suggesting that Vitamin A is also important for healthy teeth.

Other studies indicate that Vitamin A consumption can lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Vitamin A helps add resistance to infection by keeping mucous membranes moist in the mouth, respiratory tract, and urinary tract and by being an immunity booster it can help lower the risk of cancer.

According to Dr. Richard A. Chole, an ear, nose and throat researcher, Vitamin A is also vital to hearing because it is necessary for function in the middle ear. He also discovered the cochlea of the inner ear contains 10 times the amount of Vitamin A found in other bodily tissues and helps the sensory receptors, making it vitally important for hearing function.

Dr. Chole also reports of people regaining their sense of smell after being put on a Vitamin A regimen.

It's plain to see that Vitamin A is a little powerhouse in the body and is necessary for multiple body functions.