You’ve probably heard that Vitamin A is all the rage now in skincare.  Many skincare products are being made with Vitamin A because studies have found that it helps reduce the signs of aging, and at higher dosages, helps fight acne.  But of course, topical treatments only go so far.   Vitamin A is best utilized by our bodies when it is consumed through foods where it occurs naturally.

According to WebMD:

One the most important components of skin health is vitamin A.

[source]

The article goes on to recommend low-fat milk products as a good source of dietary vitamin A, but I would like to counter that you actually want to consume full fat dairy for the most health benefits.

Did you just say full fat dairy?

Why yes!  Yes I did!

Newsflash: Your body actually needs the fat in whole milk to absorb fat-soluble vitamin A.  And it tastes soooooo good.

Whole milk contains a long list of healthy vitamins and minerals that are good for our bones, skin, hair, eyes, teeth, nerves, and even digestion.  But when you remove the cream to make low-fat milk, you lose the butterfat that aids digestion and vitamin-absorption, and you also remove the vitamins A and D, which is why low-fat and skim milk are fortified with SYNTHETIC vitamins A and D, which are not the same as the natural A and D vitamins that were lost in the processing.  And don’t EVEN get me started on the issues with pasteurization. But that’s a post for another time.

Suffice it to say, we drink only whole milk in our house. And I only buy whole milk cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc.  Eating food in its whole form is always best, and it’s no different for milk.

Don’t care for milk? No worries!  Other good food sources of vitamin A include beef liver, sweet potatoes, carrots and carrot juice, cantaloupes, watermelon, spinach, broccoli, lettuce and dark leafy greens, winter squash, apricots, asparagus, green beans, yellow corn, eggs, and peas.