description=This frosty, colored forest is actually crystalline vitamin A viewed under polarized light and magnified 75 times. Vitamin A (beta-carotene or retinol) is essential for new cell growth and healthy skin. It also helps stabilize defense mechanisms in cells that defend against foreign invaders. There are two forms of vitamin A derived from our food. Preformed vitamin A comes from animals, while provitamin A (beta-carotene) is found in fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene, a double molecule of vitamin A, is converted to vitamin A by the body. Retinol, another name for preformed vitamin A, got its name because the rods and cones of the retina need the vitamin for proper vision.ìÄ
