Vitamin A

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The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

Among the dietary antioxidant nutrients shown to be important in cataract prevention (from epidemiological and controlled studies) are vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, cur-cumin, and the carotenes lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin a. You can augment the action of glutathione by consuming foods containing high levels of sulfur such as onions, avocados, eggs, asparagus, and garlic. Dietary sources of carotenes include carrots, pumpkins, spinach, collard greens, kale, squash, watermelon, asparagus, broccoli, and cantaloupe.

The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century James F. Balch, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

It contains manganese, selenium, germanium, vitamin a, vitamin C, and zinc. Garlic and Lowering Your Blood Pressure Garlic is known to be one of the most effective agents for lowering blood pressure. It has been found to lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Garlic and Boosting Your immune System Garlic has long been known to be an important stimulator of the body's defense system. Garlic's sulfur compounds enhance the function of the white blood cells.

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

The correlation between vitamin a intake and vision has been known for a long time, and we now know that specific carotenoids are equally beneficial to the eye. Lutein, zeax-anthin, and lycopene should be included in everyone's diet for prevention. To get lutein and zeaxanthin, eat lots of spinach, collard greens, kale, and mustard greens. The red carotenoid lycopene is found in watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit, though tomatoes are by far the best source. Lycopene is made more bioavailable by cooking in oil, so using tomato sauce with some olive oil is probably best.

The Origin Diet: How Eating Like Our Stone Age Ancestors Will Maximize Your Health Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. See book keywords and concepts

You inherited your blue or brown eyes from your parents (which they inherited from their parents and so on), but the fact that you have eyes that see is a consequence of the right nutrients, such as vitamin a, being in the right place at the right time millions of years ago to allow the evolution of sight.

Just as we have not developed a defense against the blindness that results from a vitamin a deficiency or the scurvy resulting from too little vitamin C, we also have not yet evolved a defense against the excessive saturated fats, sugars, salt, and refined products and the lack of essential nutrients, fiber, and other health-enhancing compounds in whole foods in our current diets. Chronic disease, obesity, depression, mental decline, and low energy are only a few of the consequences of eating out of sync with our origins. So what can you do? Basically, you have two choices: 1. Do nothing.

The fact that our bodies have thrived on pounds of nutrient-packed produce for hundreds of thousands of years explains why plant-derived nutrients, such as beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the B vitamins, are nontoxic even at high doses, while some nutrients typically consumed in meat and milk, such as vitamin a (in liver) and vitamin D (in fortified milk), can accumulate to toxic levels when consumed in excess.

One avocado supplies one fourth of your daily need for magnesium and more than half the folic acid, one fourth the vitamin a, and lots of B vitamins, iron, and trace minerals. The most important nutrient is the most forgotten, yet even mild dehydration can cause mental fatigue, while drinking more water could lower bladder-cancer risk by reducing concentrations of cancer-causing substances in urine and speeding their removal by increasing urination. 11. Sweet potato An ideal alternative to the potato, sweet potatoes are excellent sources of antioxidants, folic acid, magnesium, and B vitamins.

Prescription Medicines, Side Effects and Natural Alternatives American Medical Publishing See book keywords and concepts

Never smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. vitamin a and beta-carotene are essential for the normal development of lung tissue. Beta-carotene is particularly effective in preventing respiratory infections. Also helpful is vitamin E and the B vitamins. Vitamin C is widely believed to help respiratory infections clear up faster, and without resorting to antibiotics. No. 18 - Cardizem — Prescribed for angina pectoris, chest pains, high blood pressure, prevention of second heart attack and Reynaud's disease. A calcium channel blocker.

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

There are more than 600 different kinds of carotenoids, but only 30 to 50 varieties, particularly beta-carotenes, exhibit specific vitamin a activity. Carotenoids offer many benefits to the body. They aid growth and repair of body tissue and protect the eyes from dryness. Lutein (a xanthophyll) is particularly important to the health of the eyes because it concentrates in the macula and protects against degeneration. Carotenoids help our bodies fight bacteria and infection, and aid in the formation of bones and teeth.

Staying Healthy in a Risky Environment: The New York University Medical Center Family Guide Arthur C. Upton, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Other visual disturbances include nightblindness, caused by an inadequate amount of vitamin a in the diet or by some medications, and nutritional amblyopia, or poor vision, which occurs in chronic alcohol abusers who are deficient in B vitamin. Vision Changes from Environmental Agents The most common cause of serious toxic eye injury is contact with corrosive substances, their vapors, or fumes; such substances include alkalis, acids, solvents, detergents, and other chemicals.

The Super Anti-Oxidants: Why They Will Change the Face of Healthcare in the 21st Century James F. Balch, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

These include: vitamin a, pyridoxine (vitamin Bg), vitamin E, and vitamin K. Green Barley, Wheat Grass, Spirulina, Chlorella, Aloe vera, Jojoba, and Yucca Other green food supplements include "baby" barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, aloe vera, jojoba, and yucca. All are high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is sometimes referred to as the blood of plants. Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll is a delicate, easily denatured element, held together by small bridges of magnesium.

Symptoms: Their Causes & Cures : How to Understand and Treat 265 Health Concerns the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books See book keywords and concepts

Your eyes' waterworks can also dry up if you are extremely fatigued or have diabetes or a severe vitamin a deficiency (which is very rare in America) says Dr. Sanborn. In any case, without sufficient lubricating tears to coat your eyes and swish away sand, pollen and infectious microbes, your eyes become dry and tender. This can make wearing contact lenses as uncomfortable as hiking with a pebble in your shoe. Worse, in severe cases, dry eye can lead to vision-robbing bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

Smart Medicine for Healthier Living : Practical A-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Adults Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND See book keywords and concepts

Pregnant women should not ingest a total of more than 25,000 international units of supplemental vitamin a per week from all sources. Do not The Pap Smear The test we know as the Pap smear is named for George Papanicolaou, the physician who developed it. It is a routine part of a pelvic examination. To perform the test, the doctor inserts an instrument called a speculum that holds the vagina open while he or she uses a light to look for abnormal cells of the cervix and vaginal walls.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Carrot juice is valuable for its high beta-carotene and vitamin a content, but should be watered down as it is also high in sugar, and can adversely affect blood sugar. Adding a teaspoon of vitamin C to juices makes them into a real preventive tonic. •Green Tea...The Chinese, who have low incidences of cancer, routinely drink this beverage instead of coffee. Green tea counters the effects of radiation, keeps the pH of the blood balanced, and is high in antioxidants. The substances called polyphenolic catechins found in green tea are actually stronger than vitamin E in fighting free radicals.

Generally, 400 IU of vitamin E and 50,000 IU of vitamin a or beta carotene each day help reduce arthritic pain. In cases of advanced arthritis, patients benefit from megadoses of these nutrients given intravenously. •Chondroitin Sulfate...Chondroitin sulfate is a molecular cement that holds together cartilage, allowing collagen proteins to form actual tissue. It both prevents damage from arthritis and stimulates repair. •Cod Liver Oil...In generations past, this was a well-known remedy for arthritis. Although its popularity has declined, the remedy still works. •Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA)...

These include vitamin a, beta carotene, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and NADH. Herbs important to an antiaging protocol include fo-ti-tieng, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and gotu kola. Essential oils may alleviate common conditions associated with aging, including insomnia, indigestion, arthritis, and memory loss. Stress reduction is essential to slowing down the aging process, and preventing degenerative disease.

Other people can receive sufficient quantities of vitamin a by consuming up to 25,000 IU in halibut or cod liver oil capsules daily. Some additional preventive agents that can be used daily include 100 to 200 mg of vitamin B6 and four to six capsules of evening primrose oil. Antiseptic herbs, including buchu, goldenseal, uva ursi, juniper, and garlic, are helpful in curbing the onset of cystitis.

Supplements Nutrients important in the prevention and treatment of skin cancers include quercetin, pycnogenol, coenzyme Q10, selenium, vitamin a, and beta-carotene. Maitake mushrooms are recommended too. _What to Avoid_ Substances to stay away from include pesticides, synthetic hormones, and antibiotics, including those used in animal-derived foods. Foods that foster acidity should be minimized, and include meat, dairy products, caffeine, sugar, carbonated beverages, liquor, and processed foods. Treatment Summary The standard treatment for benign skin cancer is surgery or freezing.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Over 1,200 New Doctor-Tested Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Hundreds of Everyday Health Problems the Editors of PREVENTION See book keywords and concepts

Conventional medicine favors steroid creams, ointments with vitamin a and D derivatives, controlled exposure to UV light, and other medications, some of which carry serious side effects. The search for a safe, effective treatment continues. What works for one person with psoriasis may not work for another, so you'll need to try different approaches to see what works best for you. How you carry out the remedy is at least as important as what you do, says Dr. Terezakis. "Keeping the skin hydrated is the single most important thing," she says.

Symptoms: Their Causes & Cures : How to Understand and Treat 265 Health Concerns the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books See book keywords and concepts

A lack of riboflavin or vitamin a can cause a dry mouth, as can pernicious anemia from a vitamin B12 deficiency. Try a daily multiple vitamin supplement. Fake it. For comfort and lubrication, a doctor can prescribe artificial saliva for people who have chronically dry mouths and little or no salivary gland action, Dr. Dodds says. The gel contains the same enzymes and minerals as real saliva but lingers in your mouth only a short time, so you have to use it frequently.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Over 1,200 New Doctor-Tested Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Hundreds of Everyday Health Problems the Editors of PREVENTION See book keywords and concepts

Look for sunscreen products that contain antioxidants like vitamin C or vitamin E as well as vitamin a, says David Edelberg, M.D., founder of American WholeHealth in Chicago. To stay healthy and supple, your skin depends in part on antioxidant vitamins, minerals, herbs, and enzymes. Although we get many of these cell protectors from foods and supplements, research shows that your skin can also benefit from using them externally to counteract the damage caused by sun exposure and environmental factors.

The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Healing Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

High-dose vitamin a Therapy for Darier's Disease," Arch Dermatol, 118(11), November 1982, p. 891-894. Diabetes This study examined the effects of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene in preventing nerve conduction and nutritive blood flow deficits in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Results showed that one month of diabetes caused a 19.1% reduction in sciatic motor conduction velocity and that this was approximately prevented 80-90% by high-dose (1000 mg.kg-l.day-1) vitamin E and beta-carotene treatments. —M.A. Cotter, et al.

Effect of vitamin a Supplementation on Diarrhea and Acute Lower-respiratory-tract Infections in Young Children in Brazil," Lancet, 344(8917), July 23, 1994, p. 228-231. Results of this study found that beta-carotene offered protection against oxidative stress in primary cultures of chicken embryo fibroblasts exposed to paraquat in vitro. —S.M. Lawlor and N.M. O'Brien, "Modulation of Oxidative Stress by Beta-carotene in Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts," British Journal of Nutrition, 73(6), June 1995, p. 841-850.

Combined vitamin a and E Therapy Prevents Retinal Electrophysiological Deterioration in Abetalipoproteinaemia," British Journal of Ophthalmology, 66(12), December 1982, p. 767-770. This study found that early therapy with vitamin E may prevent and delays the onset of neurological complications in patients with abetalipoproteinaemia and that vitamin E can reverse the neuropathy associated with established lesions.

Controlling for high risk variables such as sexual activity, HPV infection, and smoking; the results showed that an insufficient intake of ascorbate as well as vitamin a, riboflavin and folate were all associated with an increased risk of cervical dysplasia. —T. Liu, et. al., "A Case Control Study of Nutritional Factors and Cervical Dysplasia," Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2(6), Nov-Dec 1993, p. 525-530.

The Complete Book of Alternative Nutrition Selene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books See book keywords and concepts

Antioxidant-packed choices include carrots, broccoli, okra and collard greens for vitamin a and frozen cranberry, grape, grapefruit or orange juice for vitamin C. Grape juice. While fruit juices lack the fiber found in fresh fruit, purple grape juice is another rich source of flavonoids. Low-fat processed meats. If you hanker for bacon, sausage, bologna or hot dogs, choose a low-fat variety. Nonfat frozen yogurt, sorbet and frozen fruit juice bars. Low-fat and fat-free dessert selections can keep you from the temptation—and the saturated fat overload—of premium ice cream. Nonfat yogurt.

That's why you can be eating well but still have a calcium deficiency or a deficiency of vitamin K, which helps your blood clot, or a deficiency of vitamin a, which helps with night vision and skin health." Cutting gluten, says Dr. Gebhard, is the answer. Gluten is a protein in the wheat kernel, but it is also found in barley, rye, oats, buckwheat, triticale and amaranth. "Then the healing can take place, which may require weeks or even months," he says. "Even when healed, a person with gluten intolerance should avoid all gluten; even small amounts can cause a reaction.

The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Healing Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-infected Cells in Breast Milk: Association with Immunosuppression and vitamin a Deficiency," Journal of Infectious Disease, 172(6), December 1995, p. 1461-1481. In this study, 11 HIV-infected patients received 60 mg of beta-carotene per day for 4 months. Increases were found in the percent of natural killer cells, la antigrm and transferrin receptor were observed following treatment for 3 months. —H.S. Garewal, et al.

Symptoms: Their Causes & Cures : How to Understand and Treat 265 Health Concerns the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books See book keywords and concepts

In rare cases (rare in the United States, but common in the third-world countries) night blindness is caused by a severe vitamin a deficiency. LL ere are some tips to help you see in low light. Cut the glare. Your optometrist or optician can put an antireflec-tive coating on your glasses that cuts glare and increases the light coming into your eye, according to Bruce Rosenthal, O.D., chief of low vision services at the State University of New York, College of Optometry in Manhattan. Wear your specs.

The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America Francois Couplan, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Pokeweed contains vitamin a, large quantities of vitamin C (three times more than lemons even after cooking) and minerals, especially P and Fe. However, in the fresh state, the whole plant, especially the roots and the mature stems, is violently purgative and toxic. The roots contain the alkaloid phy-tolaccine and can produce general depression, respiratory difficulties and irritation of the intestinal tract. Humans have occasionally been poisoned by eating parts of the roots when cooked along with the young shoots as potherbs.

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