A series about vitamins and how, due to loose regulations, we have to be our own advocates for quality vitamins. Excerpts from the Food Research Guide. This month's topic is Vitamin A. 

     Vitamin A is used for improving your immune system as they have a very high antioxidant component. 

The main concern with synthetic Vitamin A is that it has been shown to prevent Vitamin E from its antioxidant abilities. One study showed that there is concern that high levels of synthetic Vitamin A might even contribute to lung cancer.

    Real foods and whole-food-based supplements are the best way to make sure that you are staying toxin free and nutrient full. 

The truth about vitamins

Most vegetarian vitamins are from man-made chemicals instead of vegetarian food sources.  This is both misleading and legal. Some sources of nutritional supplements outside of food include petroleum and coal. These will trick your body for a time, but not forever. 

For Vitamin A, the natural form from food is called: beta-carotene, retinyl esters, mixed carotenoids

For Vitamin A, the "natural" forms, which are not natural are called: Vitamin A acetate, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene (isolated)

Supplements that have Vitamin A as food include Betacarotene include A-C-P Complex, Beetafood, Catalyst Complex, Complete Eye Health, Herbal Antioxident, Liga-Complex, Vitamin-Mineral, Vitamin & Mineral Shake.  These can be found at www.TheQuantumShoppe.com.