Diet Lettuce

[Artista]

Just curious. Why isn't there a concern for lettuce high vitamin A content? I never looked it up but red, green, butter leafs have a lot of A in them, and I give a decent amount daily since that is 1 of the very few vegs they'll eat. Anyone know?

 

[bpatters]

They're not that high compared to kale and spinach. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Artista]

They're not that high compared to kale and spinach. I wouldn't worry about it.

So handful daily is ok?

 

[LittleSqueakers]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think only animal-sources (meat sources) of vit A can build up to dangerous levels. Plant-based sources of vit A are chemically different and processed by the body differently and they can't build to the same toxic levels. I'll try to find an explanation and post it later.

 

[LittleSqueakers]

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

This article is kinda lengthy. Here's a non-scientific journal article that more succinctly explains the difference:

https://www.healthandscience.eu/ind...and-beta-carotene&catid=54&Itemid=327&lang=en

 

[Artista]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think only animal-sources (meat sources) of vit A can build up to dangerous levels. Plant-based sources of vit A are chemically different and processed by the body differently and they can't build to the same toxic levels. I'll try to find an explanation and post it later.

Us humans can have too much vit A as well as gps....

 

[LittleSqueakers]

Yes, but see, according to the articles, we only store vit A compounds that come from meat, such as organ meats. The vit A compounds that come from plants are different compounds, and the body doesn't store them. They are only converted into vitamin A as needed and the rest is excreted. You can't overdose on vitamin A compounds from plant sources, only meat sources.