A is for apple. A is also key for vision - vitamin A that is. There are two forms of vitamin A - one that comes from animal products and one that comes from plant products. The form that has the most impact on the body is retinol, which comes from animal products, plus it is absorbed quicker into the body. So try foods like eggs, liver (yuck!), and fortified milk and cereal.
Most notably, vitamin A is needed for the retina of the eye. Sounds strange, but it helps you to see in color and in low light conditions. As a kid, did you ever hear that carrots help you see in the dark? Silly, but true! It also helps fight other visions problems such as cataracts and glaucoma.
How much you need depends on your age and gender. Check out this chart I got from WebMd.com that shows the recommended daily allowance for vitamin A:
CHILDREN
1-3 years: 300 mcg/day or 1,000 International Units/day
4-8 years: 400 mcg/day or 1,320 IU/day
9-13 years: 600 mcg/day or 2,000 IU/day
FEMALES
14 years and up: 700 mcg/day or 2,310 IU/day
MALES
14 years and up: 900 mcg/day or 3,000 IU/day
To get you started, here’s a recipe for all you liver lovers out there: Absolute Best Liver and Onions. It’s certainly worth a try and is packed with vitamin A! If you decide to give it a shot, let me know what you think!