The health benefits of Retinol.
Retinol is the active form of Vitamin A, a fat soluble vitamin which mostly comes from animal based foods.
Retinol is often added to creams and serums and is well known as an anti-aging nutrient for smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
Most people do not realise that retinol (Vitamin A) should be consumed as part of a healthy diet in order to truly improve skin health and much more.
In today's video we will explore 16 facts and benefits of Retinol, and how to get more of this into your diet.
1. Anti-Aging
Retinol is an essential vitamin used by the body to build healthy skin cells. You must consume this from healthy foods such as beef liver, egg yolk or cheese in order to help nourish and protect the skin with age. This can slow the effects of aging by reducing the formation of wrinkles.
2. Dry Skin
Many people are deficient in retinol because of following low fat diets. This can lead to dry, scaly and flaky skin. Consuming foods rich in retinol (Vitamin A) naturally clears up dandruff, dry skin, white bumps on the skin, eczema and cystic acne.
3. Eyesight
Retinol is undoubtably the best nutrient for protecting the eyes from macular degeneration with age. Retinol is used by your body to build healthy rod and cone cells in the retina. This protects against night blindness and degeneration of the eyes.
4. Dry Eyes
If you suffer with dry or irritated eyes then you most likely need more Vitamin A (retinol) in your diet. Vitamin A improves glandular secretions, basically this helps your eyes to produce tears. These keep the eye moist and protect against drying corneas or bitot's spots.
5. Immunity
Traditionally parents would feed their children cod liver oil to fight off a cold or flu infection. Cod Liver Oil is naturally rich in retinol, the active form of Vitamin A. This is a very important part of the immune system and keeps your defences naturally high.
6. Sinus Health
Those who suffer with problems in the sinuses such as pressure, sinus headaches, a regular dry nose, or chronic rhinitis are often deficient in retinol. Retinol helps the body to produce healthy mucous to lubricate the sinuses and keep the inner skin moist and healthy.
7. Fertility
Retinol is also very important when it comes to reproduction in both men and women. Studies show that women who are deficient in this nutrient can find it difficult to conceive a child and are more likely to have a miscarriage.
8. Sperm Production
Retinol is also extremely important when it comes to producing sperm in men. Retinol is also a powerful antioxidant which can protect against DNA damage in the reproductive system.
9. Growth
Retinol is also a key nutrient when it comes to healthy growth and development in children. Studies show that children in Indonesia who consumed more Vitamin A had a faster rate of growth than those who did not. It also protects against bone malformations.
10. Healing Bones
If you have had an accident and break a bone or suffer a fracture then you will need more Vitamin A (retinol) in your diet. Retinol is involved with bone remodelling, and the normal functioning of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the cells that form new bone tissue.
11. Respiratory Infections
Those who have regular infections in the throat or chest may be deficient in retinol. Studies show that Vitamin A helps to protect against infections in the lungs, sinuses and throat by protecting the inner skin in the body.
12. Healing Wounds
Retinol is also a key nutrient when it comes to healing from injuries, cuts, wounds or surgery. This nutrient promotes the creation of collagen, an important component of healthy skin. You can also apply retinol creams to speed up the healing process.
13. Acne
Those with low levels of Vitamin A (retinol) often suffer with acne, redness of the skin and breakouts. Retinol creams can be applied directly the skin to help reduce acne lesions by 50%. You should also consume retinol in the diet to help fix the problem from the inside and protect against future skin problems.
14. Absorption
If you have indigestion, heart burn or acid reflux then you are unlikely to absorb retinol properly from your foods. Also, if you have had your gallbladder removed then you will struggle to digest fat soluble nutrients like retinol (Vitamin A).
To fix this simply consume an ox bile and apple cider vinegar supplement before meals, to strengthen the stomach and help you to break down fatty foods.
15. Caution
The active form of Vitamin A or retinol can be toxic in high amounts. We advise against taking synthetic supplements as these have many side effects. Simply consume it in its natural state from healthy foods like virgin cod liver oil, egg yolks, beef liver, mackerel and goats cheese.
16. Retinol vs Vitamin A
There is some confusion about the different labels that are used for this nutrient. The true and active form of Vitamin A is called retinol, and is only found in fat based animal foods.
There is also a pre-vitamin A called beta carotene found in vegetables, fruits and plant sources. The body must convert this into the active form which is retinol, however this is very poorly converted by only 3-6%, so you must get your retinol from fat sources.
Be sure to see our other video entitled "Foods Rich in Vitamin A" to learn more about the best sources.
As you can see, retinol (Vitamin A) plays a very important role in strengthening the body, especially the skin, eyes and immune system.
When looking for foods rich in Vitamin A, always consume high quality wild caught fish and grass fed, pasture raised meats.
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