Affordable Healthcare Series- Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is absorbed by your body's fats and stored in those tissues.  You should consume vitamin A dense foods with some fats to have optimal absorption.  Vitamin A has multiple functions in our body, but most important are immune system maintenance and good eye health.  Vitamin A is needed by the retina of the eye, in the form of retinal (retinoic acid.)  In combination with other proteins, it is necessary for both low light vision and color vision.  Vitamin A is also essential as a hormone-like growth factor for Epithelial cells (cells that line and surround blood vessels and organs.)  Vitamin A deficiency is not all that common, but overconsumption can have adverse side effects and avoided.  Green leafy vegetables provide ample dietary vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), along with several other heart-protecting nutrients.  Below is a list of the heavy hitting natural sources of vitamin A in a percentage of DV/DRI per cup consumed.  Grow these:

Sweet Potato! 769% DV per cup!

Carrots 532% DV per cup

Butternut Squash 457% per cup

Spinach 458% DV per cup

Kale 354% per cup

Honorable Mention:  Dried Apricots 302% per cup!

Bottom Line: Happy immune system booster and Eyes. Happy skin, connective tissues, and vessel elasticity.