Vital Wellness

Research suggests that long-term alcohol use causes the liver to excrete vita­min A and impairs the body’s ability to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A.

Vitamin A Food Source

So it should come as no surprise that people with cirrhosis of the liver, a disease commonly caused by chronic alcohol use, are frequently deficient in vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important part in helping you to reproduce, to grow new cells, to fight infection, and, because of its important role in the retina, to see at night. Read the rest of this entry »

Although the body produces natural antioxidants to neutralize free radical damage, it doesn’t produce enough to handle the free radical bombardment generated by the modern world.

Body Cell

Your body’s natural antioxidant sys­tems were simply not designed to handle rooms full of cigarette smoke, a diet loaded with fat and constant exposure to new and more virulent viruses.

This may change once scientists learn how to alter our genes so that we produce more natural antioxidants. But in the meantime, we do have another option: enhancing our natural antioxidants with synthetic antioxidants—in a word, supplements. Read the rest of this entry »

Daily Value: None established
Good Food Sources: Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables

Description:
The evidence is overwhelming! People who eat three or more servings a day of beta-carotene-rich fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of heart disease and many types of cancer. However, the scientific community isn’t as enthusiastic about the effects of beta-carotene supplements. Read the rest of this entry »