Health & Medical Nutrition

The Quick and Easy Vitamin Education You Need

You probably already know that vitamins are essential for your body, but you may not know why your body must have them in order to function properly.
Several diseases can occur if you are not getting the right amount of nutrients, even if you take in a sufficient amount of calories and protein.
Here is a list of some vitamins that are crucial to preventing disease in your body.
Vitamin A This vitamin is required for good vision (particularly in the dark).
Night blindness, difficulty or inability to see in dark or poorly lit areas, can develop if a person doesn't receive enough of this vitamin.
There are a few different forms of vitamin A (beta-carotenes, retinol, and carotenoids).
These can be found in animal products (especially liver), green leafy vegetables, eggs, broccoli, and carrots.
Vitamin A can also keep skin healthy and maintain intestinal, respiratory and urinary tract health.
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for your body's regular growth and healing abilities.
Deficiency in this nutrient can cause fatigue and tiredness, bleeding gums, dry skin and hair, and slowed healing process.
The most extreme case of vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy.
Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body and excretes it through urination.
Although this makes "overdosing" unlikely, deficiencies may occur more easily.
Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, broccoli, peppers, leafy vegetables, strawberries, melons, and tomatoes.
Vitamin E Your body uses vitamin E in immune system support and the anti-inflammatory process.
Vitamin E deficiencies are rare and there is ongoing conflict over the usefulness of vitamin E supplements.
Some studies have indicated that it might generally increase mortality rate.
Signs of vitamin E deficiency include nerve damage in hands and feet, loss of muscle coordination, weakness, retinal damage, and dysfunction of immune system.
Vitamin E is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, and vegetable oils.
B Vitamins (B12 and Folic Acid) This vitamin class includes two major vitamins, B12 and folic acid.
These vitamins are very important in promoting the health of blood cells and production of genetic material in your body.
A deficiency in these vitamins may cause weakness, tiredness, rapid heartbeat, a sore tongue, pale skin, and eventually nerve damage.
B12 and folic acid are found in liver, dark green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and whole grains.
Other important B vitamins include thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, niacin, and pantothenic acid.


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