Here is a great article on the importance of Vitamin A in the production of testosterone. We tend to focus on protein as the key to gaining strength and muscle but the vitamin A found in nutrient dense food such as butter, liver and cod liver oil is really the foundation of strength.
Please remember that, in the case of vitamin A, there really can be too much of a good thing. Excessive vitamin A intake can lead to: birth defects, liver damage and bone growth deficiencies. So be careful and stick to recommended daily intakes: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamina/#h3 - Jeff M
ReplyDeleteHere's a note from the editor on vitamin A overdosing. It is VERY rare.
ReplyDeleteEditor's Note: Many health conscious individuals avoid cod liver oil and other foods rich in vitamin A because of concerns about vitamin A toxicity. Yet, according to the Merck Manual, vitamin A poisoning is rare. In adults, vitamin A toxicity has been reported in Arctic explorers who developed drowsiness, irritability, headaches and vomiting, with subsequent peeling of the skin, within a few hours of ingesting several million units of vitamin A from polar bear or seal liver. These symptoms cleared up with discontinuation of the vitamin A rich food. Other than this unusual example, however, only vitamin A from "megavitamin tablets containing vitamin A. . . when taken for a long time" has induced acute toxicity, that is, 100,000 IU synthetic vitamin A per day taken for many months. Unless you are an Arctic explorer, it is very difficult to develop vitamin A toxicity from food. The putative toxic dose of 100,000 IU per day would be contained in 3 tablespoons of high vitamin cod liver oil, 6 tablespoons of regular cod liver oil, two-and-one-half 100-gram servings of duck liver, 150 grams of beef liver, seven pounds of butter or 309 egg yolks. Bodybuilders undergoing strenuous exercise can consume even higher amounts without adverse effects. For further information see "Vitamin A Saga."