Sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots are chock-full of healthy vitamins, but did you know that they are among the best food sources of vitamin A?

You may have been told to eat your carrots to keep those peepers sharp. That’s because vitamin A is well-known for its vision-supporting properties. But there’s so much more to this fat-soluble vitamin than just support for your eyes.

To start, vitamin A isn’t just one nutrient. It is a broad group of related nutrients that fit into two categories: Retinoids and Carotenoids.

Retinoids

In our food supply, retinoids are found exclusively in animal products. Retinoids and carotenoids have similar benefits, but retinoids are especially important for pregnancy, childbirth and infancy.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are found in plant foods like fruits and vegetables. Most carotenoids work as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Some carotenoids play a very special supportive role in one individual function. For example, xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids found in the retina, so their purpose is to support eye health. Unlike retinoids, carotenoids must be converted into a usable form of vitamin A by the body.

Together, both forms of vitamin A can help improve your wellbeing and keep your immune system healthy. Here are five reasons to get more vitamin A in your diet: