vitamin A question?

[LilQueenie]

Hello. Ok how much is too much when it comes to vitamin A and vitamin c intake? For example I love ovaltine but it contains vitamin A so how much should I drink before I can be doing any damage? Thanks in advance.

I've heard mixed messages about vitamin A, but i've heard that vitamin c is good.

I've heard that vitamin A in moderation is ok (for eyesight), but the retinol form (from animals) is not good but the vegetable form (like beta carotene and stuff like that) is ok.

I just avoid foods high in it because you get plenty from your normal diet.

Not sure on ovaltine, is there no other chocolate drink that doesn't have much in? I like nesquick in a hot chocolate drink.

Iasked my doctor about this at my last appointment! I love horlicks (which appares to have pretty much the same composition as Ovaltine) and was drinking it every night- then panicked when I saw it had added vit A. Doc said it was nothing to worry about- one mug only contains 25% of the RDA for an adult, and problems with Vit A are only in high doses of the retinol version of Vit A. She suggested I didn't drink 10 cups a day but said one would be fine!
With regard to Ovaltine, I got a free sample in my bounty pack at the hospital, so I wouldn't worry!

the vitA advice I was given was 'don't drink liver smoothies'

the vit a in ovaltine is of vegetarian source so you can have as much as you want- its important for the babies development

don't overdose on animal vit a - a bit is fine though.

As I said before, I've heard that retinol is bad but vegetable forms are ok but can anyone tell me why asdas precut bags of carrots have a pregnant lady warning on it??
Thanks

waitingimpatiently ignorance? I have no idea

I suppose in case you ate the whole bag of carrots - beta carotene is turned into retinol in the body at a rate of 6 units of beta carotene to 1 unit of retinol - so an entire bag of carrots in one go (as if you would!) might just create enough retinol in the bod to constitute a minor risk to your baby. Probably not though.

waitingimpatiently - it's probably due to the same reason as being advised not to eat pre-washed salads. I think it's the danger of listeria?

I agree with trillian42 - means pregnant women should wash them again. Can't imagine the pre-washed carrot bag is that big and even then can't believe that even a whole big bag of carrots could be dangerous!

Thank you. I feel so much better now. I usually drink mint tea but moved onto ovaltine as it was advertised in a baby mag.

As for pre-washed veg, I worked with it. Always wash it as its is prewashed in acids then in water. Its to preserve them but it also wipes out much of the nutrients. Best to grow them yourself if you can.