Which of the following plant resources are rich in Vitamin A?

UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)

Explanation

The correct option lists foods that are all excellent sources of provitamin A carotenoids, which the body converts into active Vitamin A (retinol).
Mango, papaya, carrot, and squash are all yellow-orange fruits and vegetables, a coloration that indicates a high content of beta-carotene.
Beta-carotene is the most important provitamin A carotenoid found in plant-based diets and is essential for vision, immune function, and growth.
Dark green leafy vegetables are also rich sources, but the combination in the correct option is uniformly high in Vitamin A precursors.

Option A: This option includes ginger, pulses, and kidney beans, which are poor sources of Vitamin A. Although spinach is a good source, the presence of the other items makes the entire group incorrect.
Option C: This option contains pulses and soybean, which are not significant sources of Vitamin A. Turmeric is a spice used in small quantities and is not a primary dietary source of this vitamin.
Option D: This option includes apple, pulses, and ginger, all of which have negligible amounts of Vitamin A. While squash is a good source, the other foods make this option incorrect.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of plant-based food sources rich in Vitamin A as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in patient education regarding nutrition. Knowing which foods are rich in Vitamin A is essential for counseling on preventing deficiencies, which can lead to conditions like night blindness (xerophthalmia).
This knowledge is particularly critical in community health, maternal, and child health settings, where Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health concern in India.
A nurse might advise a pregnant woman to include yellow fruits and green leafy vegetables in her diet to support fetal growth and development.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key requirement of the question: it asks for a group of foods that are ALL rich in Vitamin A.
Recall the common dietary sources of Vitamin A. A helpful mnemonic is to think of colors: bright orange/yellow fruits and vegetables (carrots, mangoes) and dark green leafy vegetables (spinach) are typically high in Vitamin A precursors (carotenoids).
Systematically evaluate each option. Look for any food item within a group that is known to be a poor source of Vitamin A.
Options A, C, and D all contain pulses (kidney beans, soybean) and/or other low-Vitamin A foods like ginger and apple. The presence of even one poor source disqualifies the entire group.
Option B lists mango, papaya, squash, and carrot. All of these are classic examples of yellow and orange produce known to be rich in beta-carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A. Therefore, this is the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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