<p>Today, we are revisiting an important conversation with <strong>Lily Nichols</strong>, registered dietitian and author of <em>Real Food for Pregnancy</em>, to unpack the confusion and controversy around <strong>vitamin A in pregnancy</strong>.</p><br><p>In this episode, Lily breaks down what vitamin A actually does in the body—why it’s essential for fetal development, immune function, hormone production, and even organ formation in a growing baby.</p><br><p>A big takeaway? The fear around vitamin A largely stems from outdated studies using <strong>high-dose synthetic versions</strong>—not food-based sources like liver. While <strong>fewer than 20 cases</strong> of vitamin A-related birth defects have been reported in the last 30 years, <strong>over 700,000 babies</strong> have been born with a serious birth defect tied to <em>vitamin A deficiency</em> in just the past two decades.</p><br><p>We also cover the difference between <strong>preformed vitamin A (retinol)</strong> and <strong>beta-carotene</strong>, why many people (especially vegetarians and vegans) struggle to convert plant-based vitamin A into a usable form, and how you can meet your needs even if you don’t love liver.</p><br><p>If you’ve been told to avoid liver or skip prenatals with vitamin A, <strong>this episode will challenge that advice—and help you feel confident in making more informed choices</strong> during pregnancy.</p><br><p>Take the <a href="https://ovie.io/questionnaire/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=shownotes&amp;utm_campaign=thetruthaboutvitaminA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ovie questionnaire </a>and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.</p><br><p>Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? <a href="https://www.ovie.io/questionnaire-final-payment/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=shownotes&amp;utm_campaign=thetruthaboutvitaminA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up HERE.</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>