Vitamin A comes in 2 forms; Preformed vitamin A (essential but toxic in extreme amounts) and plant-form ("provitamin A") or Carotene (a safe, non-toxic form you may store up in great reserves and the body will convert to vitamin A as needed without any toxicity). There are dozens of different carotenes. Different carotenes have different benefits. Beta carotene is the most popular, however, studies indicate that a variety of different carotenes as found in green and yellow-orange plants work best as a team. These are a superior quencher of singlet free radicals (formed during exposure to radiation and during normal metabolism). In addition they are building blocks for your body's anti-tumor immune factors. They operate as communicators between cells to keep cells normalized and functioning properly and in unison. These carotenes and vitamin A also support a more vigorous production of several different disease-fighting cells. In studies, this has more than doubled the immune system's Candida kill rate, an especially important benefit for AIDS sufferers. Vitamin A and carotene have grabbed their share of headlines. "Miracle antioxidant", "The Immune Vitamin", "The Anti-infective Vitamin", "The Anti-wrinkle Vitamin", "Fountain of Youth for the Skin" and "The Anti-cancer Vitamin".

Vitamin A "The anti-wrinkle vitamin" is essential to the growth and repair of all body tissues. A lack of vitamin A is especially obvious as unhealthy skin (including acne and psoriasis) Vitamin A is critical to the health of the mucous membranes of the eyes, lungs, throat, nose, mouth, digestive tract, bladder, kidneys and reproductive systems. These membranes are often your first line of defense against invaders.

Vitamin A is also significant for reducing high cholesterol and production of hormones - important factors for quality and quantity of life.

Vitamin A is necessary to support strong digestion, the building and maintenance of bones and teeth, and for good eyesight, especially night vision - an important safety factor for driving at night. Plentiful vitamin A is required for healthy blood. Your body is creating millions of new blood cells as you read this. The creation of these and other cells requires RNA. Ribonucleic acid transmits the instructions of life within each cell. Vitamin A increases the rate at which new RNA is created, thus new cells can be created as fast or faster than old ones are being worn out or destroyed. When the replacement rate falls behind the needs, you age faster. When the replacement rate keeps up or surpasses the need, you age more slowly, perhaps heal old problems and even "de-age".

This is why carotene is so important. 5,000 iu (100% RDA) of vitamin A per day is a very safe level for everyone. Three or more times this amount can start leading to problems for some people. However, your body may require 20 times this amount when health is under attack. This huge gap should be filled safely with carotene. This way we can take enough to keep a safe and plentiful supply of vitamin A to put us together faster than we are falling apart. As benefits are most notable during wound healing, disease, pregnancy, after delivery and in older age. These nutrients are in especially critical demand in the body of a smoker.

Vitamin A/Carotene is considered to be a primary nutrient useful in virtually every nutritional strategy and supportive of optimal performance by any measure.