We all know how Vitamin A is good for our kids’ eyes, but is that all it is for? To know the vital role of one of the best vitamins for kids, here is a summary of what Vitamin A does for your kid.
Let’s start off with what Vitamin A is popular for—eyesight. The human retina includes a total of 4 photo pigments where Vitamin A is stored. One of them, called rhodopsin, actually has rod cells that excite the visual sense. The other 3 are known as iodopsin collectively and is known to regulate day vision. These visual pigments all need Vitamin A.
Vitamin A for Appetite
But this vitamin is not just about healthy eyesight. It is also responsible for your toddler’s appetite. If your kid seems to have no liking for food, your doctor may recommend a certain dosage of Vitamin A supplement. It stimulates appetite in kids to help make them gain more weight, energy and overall health.
Bone Vitamin
Vitamin A is also known as a bone vitamin. Kids suffering from bone abnormalities or weak bone health may be given Vitamin A by your doctor. Bone abnormalities may also cause growth retardation and Vitamin A can help correct this condition.
Dry Skin
If your toddler lacks skin glow or freshness, Vitamin A may remedy it. Dry skin can cause various skin irritations or future skin diseases. To help prevent them from occurring, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of this vitamin. [INPOSTLB]
Beware of Excessive Vitamin A
However, make sure Vitamin A supplementation is under a medical doctor’s supervision. It is recommended only until the healthy level is attained. Beware of Vitamin A overdose, which often results in food poisoning due to the high iron content. Iron toxicity can lead to dangerous poisoning and even loss of life. The symptoms are fatigue, acute indigestion, weight loss, vomiting, and irritability. Hence, Vitamin A supplementation (and other health supplementation for kids, for that matter) should always be supervised by medical doctors.
Good Vitamin A Sources
Aside from brightly colored yellow fruits and vegetables (bananas, mangoes, squash and its flower, to name a few), dark green leafy vegetables are also perfect as natural food Vitamin A sources. These fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenes, which convert into Vitamin A during digestion.
When giving your kids natural fruits and vegetables, make sure to thoroughly wash them to get rid of chemical pesticides. A tip here is to soak them in water with baking soda for 20 minutes and then wash thoroughly with water.
Plan your kids’ meals carefully. Make sure it contains one of the best vitamins for kids – Vitamin A.
