YES, we need Vitamin A in our diets for many
important reasons. Along with forming and maintaining healthy
hair, teeth and gums, Vitamin A also helps keep your skin and mucous
membranes healthy.
Vitamin A is the vitamin necessary for healthy skin. A serious
lack or excess intake can cause dry, rough skin, among other
problems.
A deficiency of Vitamin A injures the epithelial
tissues throughout the body. These cells form the outer layer of the
skin and the mucous membranes that line the mouth and the digestive,
respiratory and genito-urinary tracts. The secretory glands, such as
tear glands and digestive glands, are composed of specialized
epithelial cells. Epithelial cells dry and flatten and
slough off when Vitamin A is lacking. The epithelial
cells, instead of being soft and moist, become hard and dry like the
scales of dry skin.
Excellent natural sources of Vitamin A include such foods as
yellow and green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits, kale, spinach, collard
greens, carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, apricots, peaches, and
cantaloupes. Vitamin A is also found in whole milk, butter, eggs,
liver, kidneys, and some fish.