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beta-Carotene is NOT Real Vitamin A (Retinol)

vitamins

Vitamin A should NEVER be confused with beta-Carotene. Real, PREFORMED Vitamin A is called retinol and was the first vitamin to be discovered - in 1913. You can ONLY get retinol from animal foods (sorry veggies).
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PROvitamin A includes all members of the carotenoid family, most notably beta-Carotene. You get these from plants. It takes whopping 12 units of beta-Carotene to yield a SINGLE unit of retinol!
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“People with diabetes, low thyroid activity, and who use a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) without antioxidants such as vitamin E have lowered ability to convert beta-carotene to A.” - Staying Healthy with Nutrition
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That’s basically ALL of us (hello hypo-metabolism and excess PUFA consumption!). Plus, many of us have a gene that makes the conversion process very inefficient. AND too much carotenoid consumption actually suppresses thyroid function and feeds pathogens.
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Real, easy-to-absorb, preformed Vitamin A is increasingly important and is required for MANY important functions in the body, including:
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🔥Making energy (it ACTIVATES copper, which REGULATES iron metabolism)
🦋Thyroid function (it activates thyroid hormone)
👀Vision and eye health
🦠Immune system function (it activates Hormone-D)
🧬Genetic processes
👶Healthy skin (inside + outside)
🌱Growth and healing
🦴Bone health
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Without enough retinol in our diet, we literally can’t make energy...and often times retinol deficiency causes anemia!
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So how do we up our levels?
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☀️GET SUNLIGHT. Vitamin A is a true light sensor. We need the sun to be able to break it down and use it.
🐄GRASS-FED BEEF (and other animal) LIVER. Did you know that the 1934 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine went to doctors who cured anemia by giving patients liver?
🥛HIGH-QUALITY DAIRY. Think whole or high-fat milk, cheese and butter.
🐟SOME FISH. Like mackerel, tuna and trout.
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Supplementing with synthetic Vitamin A is NOT a good idea. The synthetic form is what most often drives toxicity. Plus, it feeds pathogens (just like carotenoids).
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What’s your favorite food source of Vitamin A?

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Arnarson, A. (2017). 20 Foods That Are High in Vitamin A. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-a#section1.

Borel, P. Desmarchelier, C. (2017). Genetic Variations Associated with Vitamin A Status and Vitamin A Bioavailability. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372909/.

Designs for Health. (2016). Vitamin A: Underappreciated Role in Thyroid Health. Retrieved from: https://blog.designsforhealth.com/vitamin-a-underappreciated-role-in-thyroid-health-0.

Farhangi, M.A. Keshavarz, S.A. Eshraghian, M. Ostadrahimi, A. Saboor-Yaraghi, A.A. (2012). The Effect of Vitamin A Supplementation on Thyroid Function in Premenopausal Women. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23378454/.

Haas, E. M. Levin, B. (2006). Staying Healthy with Nutrition. New York, NY: Ten Speed Press.

Harrison, E.H. (2012). Mechanisms Involved in the Intestinal Absorption of Dietary Vitamin A and Provitamin A Carotenoids. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21718801/.

Hibberd, M. Wu, M. Rodionov, D.A. Li, X. Cheng, J. Griffin, N.W. Barratt, M.J. Giannones, R.J. Hettich, R.L. Osterman, A.L. Gordon, J.I. (2017). The effects of micronutrient deficiencies on bacterial species from the human gut microbiota. Retrieved from: https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/390/eaal4069.

Robbins, M. (2018). Toxicity Post #69: Retinol-A is an absolute requirement for building blood and especially hemoglobin. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/toxicity-post-69-the-iron-y-of-retinol/.

Tumbo, P. Yates, A.A. Schlicker, S. Poos, M. (2001). Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11269606/.

Kiuchi, S. Ihara, H. Koyasu, M. Tani, A. Kakinoki, T. Shino, Y. Nishiguchi, Y. Ito, N. Yokota, H. Hashizume, N. Hashizume, N. (2018). Relation between serum levels of thyroid hormone and serum β-carotene concentrations in patients with thyroid disorders. Retrieved from: https://plaza.umin.ac.jp/~e-jabs/6/6.1.pdf.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.