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Vitamins And Health
Find out about the link between vitamins and health.
The Link Between Vitamins and Health
The link between vitamins and health is one that has only very recently been brought to light by science.
While researchers and scientists have been studying the effects of nutrition on human health for centuries, it is only within the last century or so that vitamins have actually been scientifically identified under controlled conditions in the laboratory.
Years before, however, it had been proven that certain types of foods could prevent certain diseases from developing, most notably scurvy and beriberi.
Now scientists, doctors, and dietitians know that balanced nutrition is a requirement for good health.
Not only are vitamins required for the prevention of many diseases in the human body, they are also essential for many routine functions that are necessary to life.
Without proper nutrition in our diets that includes the 13 essential vitamins and various essential minerals, our bodies could not function properly. Here is a list of all the essential vitamins, and what health functions they perform in the body:
Vitamin A - Also known as retinol, vitamin A is necessary for healthy bones, teeth, skin, and vision. Vitamin A can be found naturally in dark green vegetables and orange fruits and veggies.
Vitamin B1 - Also known as Thiamin. This vitamin is crucial for converting carbohydrates to energy, and for keeping your nervous system and heart healthy. You can get vitamin B1 from eating pork and beef, liver, lamb, peas and beans, seeds, whole grains, and oatmeal.
Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin is necessary for energy metabolism in the body, helps form red blood cells, and along with vitamin A assists in the maintenance of healthy skin and eyesight. You can get it from milk, yogurt, cheese, whole-grains, green leafy veggies, eggs, meat, and beef liver.
Vitamin B3 - Niacin helps your body convert food to energy. It has also been found to be useful for controlling cholesterol, but consult your physician before replacing your statin meds with this vitamin. Also, be aware that in high doses, it can cause flushing of the skin and a prickling sensation, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. As always when taking any vitamin supplement, take it according to the manufacturer’s label. To get it naturally, eat eggs, beef, poultry, fish, peanut butter, milk, and whole grains.
Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid is necessary for the metabolism of energy in the body (are you noticing a trend here with these B vitamins?) You can get it from eating whole-grains, beans, eggs, meat, and royal jelly (a supplement that comes from honey bees).
Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine helps your body use proteins and amino acids. It assists in keeping your brain healthy, and in the formation of red blood cells, insulin (helps control blood sugar), and antibodies (necessary for your immune system to function properly). You can get it in your diet from eating fish, white meat, beans, raisins, green leafy veggies, corn, whole grains, bananas, and mangos.
Vitamin B7 - Biotin helps your body use fats and aminos, and also plays a part in the production of some hormones and neurotransmitters (they send messages from nerve cell to nerve cell; without them your body can’t function normally, or at all if they’re completely absent). Good sources of biotin are liver, beans, swiss chard, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, royal jelly, and carrots.
Vitamin B9 - Folic acid is used in cell growth and DNA formation. It has also been shown to be a factor in preventing certain birth defects. You can get it from eating liver, spinach, beans and peas, asparagus, oranges, brussels sprouts, collard greens, and avocados.
Vitamin B12 - Also known as Cobalamin (say that fast three times staring in a mirror at midnight), this vitamin serves a similar function to other B vitamins, as it is used in the formation of red blood cells, DNA, and assists with proper nervous system function. The following foods are high in vitamin B12: meat, fish, poultry, clams, eggs, and dairy products.
Vitamin C - Ascorbic acid performs a number of functions in the body, as it is used from everything to maintaining teeth and bones, to creating collagen (used in skin and connective tissue), to helping the immune system, to keeping blood vessels healthy, to healing cuts and scrapes. You can get vitamin C from berries, melons, tomatoes, potatoes, citrus fruits, mangos, kiwi fruit, papaya, yellow peppers, and broccoli.
Vitamin D - Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin when exposed to sunlight. It is necessary for your body to absorb calcium, so of course it contributes to strong and healthy bones. Some research indicates that vitamin D may prevent autoimmune diseases, and may also decrease the risk of cancer. Just be aware that vitamin D (along with vitamins A, E, and K) is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that your body may not be able to excrete excess amounts of it as easily as the water-soluble vitamins. So, there is some risk of over-dosing on fat-soluble vitamins; use care when supplementing with any fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin E - Vitamin E helps your body grow new tissue, muscle and blood cells. You can get it in your diet from eating grains, green leafy veggies, seeds and nuts, peanuts, vegetable oils and salad dressings containing those oils, and wheat germ.
Vitamin K - A greatly under-appreciated vitamin, vitamin K is necessary for blood-clotting. While much of your daily needs are met via vitamin K being made by the friendly bacteria in your gut, if you’ve recently been on antibiotics you may not have enough bacteria left to perform this duty. Of course, you can take probiotics or eat plenty of yogurt and kefir to replace those good bacteria, and eat plenty of greens, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach to ensure you’re getting vitamin K in your diet.
So, there you have it – now you know the specific links between vitamins and health! And, while it is possible to get all the vitamins above by eating a healthy, balanced diet, why not take a good liquid vitamin daily to ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs?
Click here to get a balanced liquid vitamin that tastes great!
