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Show FEBRUARY 12, 1985 DAVtS REFLEX JOURNAL, Wednesdays woman MEDICAL UPDATE By Lin Understanding Vitamin A Granting Sjw cmember I Gilligans Island? One of the episodes that most rVl stands out in my mind I is the one in which they discovered a crate of radioactive seeds that had been washed ashore. After a very short growing season, the shipwrecked crew was delighted to be able to eat their favorite foods once again. Due to the radioactivity in the vegetables, their natural benefits were multiplied several times. Thus, after Mary Ann (who had planted carrots) enjoyed the fruit of her labor, her eyesight was so improved that she was able to spot things that none of the others could see jl without the use of binoculars. Why do we equate carrots with good vision? Because cat rots are a good source of carotene, a form of vitamin A. Vitamin A is thought to be very beneficial for the eyes. Do you find that you have a particularly hard time seeing in dim light? Does night driving cause problems for you because you can barely see 10 feet in front of the car? Is your skin rough and chapped? Are your eyes dry and itchy? Do you feel tense and anxious, under a lot of stress? What you may need is vitamin A. Vitamin A, or retinol, was the earliest vitamin discovered. In 1912 researchers found that a certain substance in animal fats and fish oils was necessary for the growth of young animals. Originally called fat soluble A, it includes retinol (vitamin A as we know it) and carotenes, which are orange-yellocompounds found in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A is often called the w skin vitamin and has been shown to have a profound effect on skin, hair, teeth and gums. Since vitamin A is important in human development, against exceeding daily supplement dosages greater than 25,000 IU. Toxicity is usually reported in doses over 25,000 IU for infants and 100, (XX) IU for adults. The continued use of doses five to 10 times the FDA may be dangerous. In 1975 an Englishman named Basil Brown began taking seven million units (roughly 1,000 times the recommended dosage) of vitamin A and drinking a gallon of carrot juice a day. Two weeks later he was dead at the age of 48. The cause was found to be complete destruction of the liver cirrhosis. His skin was bright yellow when he died. A practice which may compound the problem of toxicity is the manufacturers inclusion of more vitamin A in supplements than may be indicated on the label. A serves many functional purposes. It helps vision, particularly night blindness. It also prevents a glare reaction from oncoming car lights during night driving. It produces a feeling of zest for living." It adds sheen to skin and hair, prevents skin blemishes and may guard against wrinkles due to its effectiveness in reducing dryness of the outer skin. It helps protect against infections and colds. Since diseases such as hepatitis or rheumatic fever rapidly deplete the livers sources of vitamin A, many physicians prescribe vitamin A to guard against deficiencies. Physicians often provide extremely large dosages (up to 100,000 IU) for the treatment of children suffering from a form of xerophthalmia Vitamin A has a profound effect on skin, hair, teeth and gums. This is a practice which is Linda Clark, a nutrition expert and author of Get Well Naturally and Help Yourself to Health, states that vitamin conjunctivitis characterized by a dry and lusterless condition of the eyeballs. After a few days of massive treatment, doses arc decreased substantially. Certain diseases obstructive jaundice or cystic fibrosis cause poor absorption of dietary fat and fat soluble vitamins. Because the absorption of vitamin A into the body is hampered, supplements which provide from five to 10 times the RDA may be prescribed. Vitamin A supplements are one.B NEW YEARS RESOLUTION SPECIAL! ! 5 Weeks carrots, spinach, broccoli, escarole, cabbage, lettuce, kale, Brussels sprouts and tomatoes. Generally, the darker the vegetable, the more carotene it contains. Foods rich in vitamin A are: liver, egg yolk, kidney, heart, seafood, fish (especially fish liver) and fortified milk, margarine and butter. for $25.00 promised yourself you would lose weight and get in shape this year, this SPECIAL OFFER will help you get started!! DO IT NOW If you Zinc is essential for the proper use and storage of vitamin A. The recommended daily allowance is 15 mg. Cooking reduces the amount of vitamin A in green vegetables by about 20 percent and in yellow vegetables by about 30 percent. Vitamin A destroyers are mineral oil (a common laxative), tannic acid (found in tea), nitrates and benzoate (food preservatives), ferrous sulfate (an iron supplement), aspirin and barbiturates. Diabetics and people with thyroids require greater intake of vitamin A than other people. Long exposure to harsh lighting conditions can also create an increased need for over-activ- frequently utilized due to the limited shelf life of vitamin manufacturers supplements will attempt to ensure potency by including more than the labeled amount of a vitamin, perhaps as much as 40 percent. In addition, artificial emulsifiers which are added to our foods can cause excessive absorption of vitamin A. your experience with vitamin A is sure to be an enlightening and include liver, eggs and whole milk in your diet regimen. If you follow these guidelines, often recommended in the treatment of acne, psoriasis and other skin conditions. The most common method of treatment is to apply vitamin A directly to the affected area. More important things to remember about vitamin A: Foods rich in carotene are: e Call Today.. .You vitamin A. Co-e- d everyday! 18,000 sq. ft. facility. Separate men and women Pollutants in the air we breathe destroy vitamin A in the lungs. Thus, those who live in areas might consider taking vitamin A supplements. Remember to be cautious in your use of vitamin A, since it is a potentially toxic vitamin. Eat a variety of foods including e and dark green FacilitiesD 2,500 square feet aerobic area ll both be glad you did!! Swim pool Steam room Jacuzzi Free weights Basketball Racquetball Dressing rooms Sun Tanning UV-Aerobic Dance Exercise Nursery Sauna smog-ridde- n OFFER EXPIRES FEB. 28 773-622- 0 (V2 Block West of McDonald's) 5385 So. 1900 W yellow-orang- vegetables several times a week Roy it is especially vital for children. A fat soluble vitamin, vitamin A occurs naturally in fish liver oils. Most of the vitamin A supplements found in health food stores, however, are A ,s' WERE CELEBRATING OUR... siSPS (. J V A '.f X Bom Pedro's t ' ' ,..4 CELEBRATE Two substances are required TBnaaFS FfL & Sift, 4 EE PLANTS absorption. hydroxytoluene (BHT). Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the body for relatively long periods of time. Vitamin A is one of the two vitamins (the other is vitamin D) which can be toxic in large amounts. Symptoms of toxicity include loss of appetite, blurred vision, headache, loss of hair and dry, flaky skin. Restlessness, muscle pains and liver or nervous disturbances may also develop. The U.S. RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin A for women is 4,000 IU (international units); for men and pregnant women, 5,000 IU. Men need more vitamin A than women and adults need more than children. In addition, daily requirements increase with body weight and we need more vitamin A during the winter than in summer. FDA regulations limit the amount of vitamin A sold over the counter without a prescription to 10, 000 IU per capsule. Nutritionists caution hJ U disease. You may remember from your childhood that cod liver oil was always stored in the refrigerator. The reason that Mom kept the cod liver oil in the refrigerator wasnt to make it was to it taste better prevent oxidation. Vitamin A is easily destroyed by oxidation and today most preparations contain antioxidants such as vitamin E, lecithin or butylated 7 ! synthetically produced. This vitamin is stored in the liver and other tissues of the body and is formed through a chemical combination of acid and an alcohol. It is essential for new cell growth and healthy tissues. There is also mounting evidence that vitamin A may enhance various immune functions which provide protection against infectious for the absorption of vitamin A: fat and bile acids. Bile acids are produced in the gallbladder and their purpose is to emulsify fats so they can be utilized for ? COMBINATION DINNER ilCE OF VARIETIES WITH COUPC V4 S2S! 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