Food Sources for Vitamin A

How Retinol Keeps Your Body Healthy and Thriving

Vitamin A, or Retinol, is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It is responsible for keeping our eyes healthy, promoting bone growth, supporting the immune system, and aiding in growth and development.

While supplements are widely available, many people forget that vitamin A is abundant in a variety of healthy foods. For example, kale, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, and liver are all rich sources of this crucial nutrient, as well as other essential vitamins and minerals.

Incorporating these foods into your diet can help ensure that you are getting the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, without having to rely solely on supplements. Additionally, eating a nutrient-dense diet that includes these foods can support other aspects of your health as well.

Vitamin A, retinol
For adults, the recommended intake of retinol is 900 micrograms per day for men and 700 micrograms per day for women.
Meat & Protein
Grass Fed Red Meat
Beef Liver

A 3.5-ounce serving  contains approximately 7,800 mcg.

Lamb Liver

100 grams of lamb liver can provide up to 26,000 mcg of vitamin A.

Bison Meat

33 micrograms of Vitamin A.

Grass Fed Beef

100-500 mcg of vitamin A per 3.5 ounces.

Grass Fed Fairy
Whole Milk

One cup provides 149 mcg.

Cheese

1 ounce contains about 145-150 mcg

Butter

Butter is high in vitamin A with a tablespoon containing approximately 355 IU.

 

Yogurt

A single tablespoon of butter contains around 153 micrograms of vitamin A.

Cream

One tablespoon of heavy cream contains approximately 19 mcg of vitamin A

biotin, vitamin b7, cobalamin, vitamin b12, vitamin d, vitamin e, iodine, vitamin k, phosphorus
Free range Eggs
Eggs

One large egg contains around 75-80 micrograms.

vitamin b1, thiamine, choline, pyridoxine, calcium, copper, vitamin e, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, flavonoids, selenium, zinc
Nuts & Seeds
Almond

One cup contains just 1.5 mcg

Hazelnuts

1 oz serving contains 6 micrograms

Pistachios

1oz contains approximately 29 mcg

Walnuts

1 ounce about 5 mcg

Fruits, Vegetable & Leafy Greens
potassium, manganese, pyridoxine, magnesium, flavonoids, zinc
Organic Fruit
Mango

A medium-size mango contains about 126 mcg

Cantaloupe

3.5oz serving of cantaloupe contains approx 169 mcg

Papaya

One medium-sized papaya typically contains about 156 mcg

Apricot

A medium sized apricot provides around 17 mcg

Guava

One cup of sliced guava can contain around 624 mcg

Persimmon

A medium-sized persimmon fruit contains about 55 mcg

Kiwi

One cup of sliced kiwi contains approximately 62 mcg

Squash
Butternut Squash

One cup of cooked butternut squash, contains about 1,144 mcg

Acorn Squash

A single cup provides approx 800 to 1435 mcg

Spaghetti Squash

1 raw, medium-sized spaghetti squash provides around 344 mcg

Leafy Greens
Spinach

A half-cup of boiled spinach provides 573 mcg

Cruciferous
Kale

This nutrient powerhouse is an excellent source of vitamin A, with over 200% of the daily recommended intake in a single cup.

Collards Greens

One cup of cooked collard greens contains over 100% of the daily value for Vitamin A

Swiss Chard

One cup contains 60% of your daily need of Vitamin A

Mustard Greens

A serving of mustard greens has 9% of your daily value. 

Grains, Herbs, Oils & Roots
Roots
Sweet Potatoes

1 medium-sized sweet potato contains approximately 438% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A

Carrots

1 medium-sized carrot contains around 204% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A

Beet Root

1 cup of beetroot contains roughly 6% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A

Turnips

A cup of turnips contains approximately 4% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A

Parsnips

1 c  of parsnips contains about 3% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A

Rutabagas

One cup of rutabagas contains roughly 10% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A.

Whole Grains
Brown Rice

One cup of cooked brown rice contains 8% of the daily value

Quinoa

One cup of cooked quinoa contains 14% of the daily value of vitamin A

Buckwheat

One cup of cooked buckwheat contains 5% of the daily value of vitamin A.

Oats

: One cup of cooked oats contains 2% of the daily value of vitamin A.

 

Whole Wheat

One cup of cooked whole wheat contains 0.5% of the daily value of vitamin A.

Herbs
potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamin b1, thiamine, pyridoxine, zinc
Dried Basil

1 tablespoon provides 15% of the Daily Value

Dried Parsley

1 tablespoon provides  11% DV

Dried Thyme

1 tablespoon provides  9% DV

Dried Majoram

1 tablespoon provides 7% DV

Paprika

1 tablespoon provides  7% DV

Cayenne Peppers

1 tablespoon provides 7% DV

Dried Oregano

 1 tablespoon provides  1% DV

Sage

1 tablespoon provides less than 1% DV

Rosemary

1 tablespoon provides less than 1% DV

Oils
vitamin a, retinol, vitamin b1, thiamine, vitamin d
Cod Liver Oil

140% of the daily value per tablespoon

Carrot Seed Oil

Carrot Seed Oil  has 45% of the daily value per tablespoon

Black Current Seed Oil

34% of the daily value per tablespoon

Rose Hip Seed Oil

22% of the daily value per tablespoon

Red Palm Seed Oil

15% of the daily value per tablespoon

Did you know?

The term “Vitamin A” was coined in 1913 by an English biochemist Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, who discovered that rats fed a deficient diet developed eye problems.

Beta-carotene is a substance found in plants that can turn into Vitamin A in our body.

It’s in many skincare products as it’s a strong antioxidant and improves skin texture, reduces lines and age spots.It also helps skin cells grow and form new tissues. It also calms inflamed or irritated skin and can combat other skin conditions like acne