Am I getting too much vitamin A?!


Question: I've been feeling really nauseous and overly tired lately. I've been sleeping almost constantly the past few days. I don't have a fever, I'm just super tired and a bit nauseous in the mornings (no I'm not pregnant). A friend of mine noticed me scarfing down carrots today and said something about me being tired and Vitamin A toxicity. I tried to look stuff up online but everything I'm finding is really long and has to do with medical research. I can't find exactly how much is too much. I bought some carrots earlier in the week and I've been eating about 1/4 pound a day all week. I just now looked at the nutrition facts and I'm getting about 150% of the recommended amount per day. Any help?


Answers: I've been feeling really nauseous and overly tired lately. I've been sleeping almost constantly the past few days. I don't have a fever, I'm just super tired and a bit nauseous in the mornings (no I'm not pregnant). A friend of mine noticed me scarfing down carrots today and said something about me being tired and Vitamin A toxicity. I tried to look stuff up online but everything I'm finding is really long and has to do with medical research. I can't find exactly how much is too much. I bought some carrots earlier in the week and I've been eating about 1/4 pound a day all week. I just now looked at the nutrition facts and I'm getting about 150% of the recommended amount per day. Any help?

OK. Now there are two types of Vit.A. One is the regular vitamin A and the other is beta-carotene. Both Are good for the eyes and are anti-oxidants. The good thing about beta-carotene found in carrots is that it gets converted into Vit.A by synthesis according to the need of the body requirement. You usually find Vitamin A in moisturing lotions. This is because Vit.A improves elasticity and helps in if not removing wrinkles atleast defintely delaying their appearance. Yes excess of regular Vit A causes some problems. I would not like to go into that because some of the minerals carrots contain are sulphur, chlorine and iodine. Now sulfur and chlorine and iodine are all known to cause nausea and other problems. Remember, everything in excess even fruit may be harmful, depending on the person's age and resistance. One-fourth of a pound of carrots every day is a little too much. You have your multi-vitamins ( and remember the multi-vits.) must have beta-carotene so that over dosage of vitamin A does not occur. One medium sized carrot per day would help you keep healthier eyes, skin, and keep the elasticity your body in excellent shape. A caution - since you have been having carrots continuously since quite some time I would suggest you stop them for a month or so and take any good multi-vit. as mentioned above. So, with all the best of luck and good wishes I wind up my answer.

"Acute toxicity generally occurs at doses of 25,000 IU/kg, with chronic toxicity occurring at 4,000 IU/kg daily for 6-15 months.[12] However, liver toxicities can occur at levels as low as 15,000 IU per day to 1.4 million IU per day, with an average daily toxic dose of 120,000 IU per day. In people with renal failure 4000 IU can cause substantial damage. Additionally excessive alcohol intake can increase toxicity."



so your eating about 4ounches of carrots a day? getting 150% of vit A isn't really going to hurt you. *not a doctor or nurse but that doesn't really add up, i guess just don't keep doing it! if it feels like your getting sick*

I really don't believe you can eat enough carrots to get beta carotene toxicity. However, raw polar bear liver will kill you because of it.

Eating carrots the way you say is not going to lead to beta carotene or Vitamin A toxicity...surely you can't consume enough carrots to do that~ However, you may want to go visit this site if ever you are curious about any medical situation. www.WebMd.com it is an excellent site that will not only give answers and descriptions in words that anyone can understand_laymens terms not just medical mumbo_jumbo~ It can also serve as a great avenue towards other ways to solve your curiosity, when medically related situations occur in your life or anothers. Great site...go see!
Your signs & symptoms cane be entered in an area at this site (just click signs & sympyoms) & the site will define various possibilities as well as refer you toward the proper avenue to seek out medical intervention iof necessary. Hope you feel better soon~





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