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Essential Vitamins And Disease Prevention
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Published: October 13, 2006
Acquired common sense proclaims vitamins are a necessary part of the human diet, but how many people actually know what they are, let alone what they do? Let collective ignorance about vitamins persist no further!
Vitamins are nutrients serving as catalysts for metabolic reactions in the body. Simply put, vitamins are substances allowing the body to work the way it was designed to work.
Vitamins are responsible for regulating metabolism, guarding against cell damage, and helping with the formation and repair of bones and tissues. Think of it this way: without vitamins, health and general well-being would not be possible. Without vitamins, people would die.
Vitamins are classified into two categories – fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are capable of being stored by the body; water-soluble vitamins are absorbed by the body and any excess leaves the body through urine. Even though water-soluble vitamins need to be replaced more often, both categories are essential.
In humans, there are 13 vitamins: four fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and nine water-soluble (eight B vitamins and C). There are three primary sources of these life-giving vitamins: food, beverage and the body itself. Any one of these vitamin sources can be supplemented through such supplements as Centrum. These over-the-counter vitamins, however, should never be a substitute for the other sources. Even though all 13 vitamins are essential in serving as catalysts for various reactions within the body, the most well-known are vitamins C, B and D.
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is perhaps the best publicized vitamin. Whether it is to cure a cold or to sharpen eyesight, most people know the importance of vitamin C. Found heavily in citrus fruits, vitamin C historically has been known as the vitamin which fights scurvy – the disease of sailors where spots form on the skin, gums become tender and bleeding occurs all over. Vitamin C also is beneficial in treating the common cold, polio, heart disease, poisoning, cataracts and even cancer. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin C has an extremely low toxicity, so overdose is not a real concern. Drink your orange juice, people!
Though not much is commonly-known about vitamin D, this vitamin is essential in warding off rickets, osteoporosis and other bone-altering diseases. Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, weakness, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness, arthritis and tuberculosis. The good news? The skin produces its own levels of vitamin D as part of a reaction with sunlight. However, vitamin D still should not be excluded from a diet, especially for those people who spend a good portion of their days away from direct rays. For dietary intake, look toward fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms and vitamin D fortified milk.
Vitamin B is the most multifaceted of the vitamins; it is actually a grouping of eight different vitamins. Since all eight complexes usually coexist in the same foods, the more generic name of vitamin B is applicable. Vitamin B perhaps is the most important water-soluble for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, which is how the body gets its energy. Other B-complex vitamins help bolster metabolism, maintain the immune and nervous systems, and promote healthy skin and muscle growth. Potatoes, bananas and turkey all are common sources of vitamin B. Even the pride of Australia – vegemite – purports itself to be a spread rich in vitamin B.
It may sound difficult to keep track of, but remember all these vitamins can be brought into your body just by keeping a sensible diet. This is a much better approach than only taking individual vitamin supplements, because when you eat vitamin-fortified foods, you also gain an array of other vitamins (rather than a single one) as well as the energy within the food. Overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins can be damaging; they are stored in the body and can reach toxic levels. Excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, just harmlessly flow out of the body with urine.
Armed with new knowledge about vitamins, scientists now have a better idea of what mother’s mean when they preach about the importance of a “healthy, balanced diet.” Sure enough, it is for your own good.
Sources:
Essential Vitamin Guide. 12 October 2006. <http://www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-114.jsp.>
Gordon, Dr. Jerry. How B Vitamins Work. Howstuffworks. 12 October 2006. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b.htm. >
Wikipedia. Scurvy. 12 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin B. 11 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins#Vitami n_B_Sources.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin C. 11 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin D. 12 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D#In_food .>
Vitamins are nutrients serving as catalysts for metabolic reactions in the body. Simply put, vitamins are substances allowing the body to work the way it was designed to work.
Related Articles
Vitamins are classified into two categories – fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are capable of being stored by the body; water-soluble vitamins are absorbed by the body and any excess leaves the body through urine. Even though water-soluble vitamins need to be replaced more often, both categories are essential.
In humans, there are 13 vitamins: four fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and nine water-soluble (eight B vitamins and C). There are three primary sources of these life-giving vitamins: food, beverage and the body itself. Any one of these vitamin sources can be supplemented through such supplements as Centrum. These over-the-counter vitamins, however, should never be a substitute for the other sources. Even though all 13 vitamins are essential in serving as catalysts for various reactions within the body, the most well-known are vitamins C, B and D.
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is perhaps the best publicized vitamin. Whether it is to cure a cold or to sharpen eyesight, most people know the importance of vitamin C. Found heavily in citrus fruits, vitamin C historically has been known as the vitamin which fights scurvy – the disease of sailors where spots form on the skin, gums become tender and bleeding occurs all over. Vitamin C also is beneficial in treating the common cold, polio, heart disease, poisoning, cataracts and even cancer. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin C has an extremely low toxicity, so overdose is not a real concern. Drink your orange juice, people!
Though not much is commonly-known about vitamin D, this vitamin is essential in warding off rickets, osteoporosis and other bone-altering diseases. Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, weakness, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness, arthritis and tuberculosis. The good news? The skin produces its own levels of vitamin D as part of a reaction with sunlight. However, vitamin D still should not be excluded from a diet, especially for those people who spend a good portion of their days away from direct rays. For dietary intake, look toward fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms and vitamin D fortified milk.
Vitamin B is the most multifaceted of the vitamins; it is actually a grouping of eight different vitamins. Since all eight complexes usually coexist in the same foods, the more generic name of vitamin B is applicable. Vitamin B perhaps is the most important water-soluble for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, which is how the body gets its energy. Other B-complex vitamins help bolster metabolism, maintain the immune and nervous systems, and promote healthy skin and muscle growth. Potatoes, bananas and turkey all are common sources of vitamin B. Even the pride of Australia – vegemite – purports itself to be a spread rich in vitamin B.
It may sound difficult to keep track of, but remember all these vitamins can be brought into your body just by keeping a sensible diet. This is a much better approach than only taking individual vitamin supplements, because when you eat vitamin-fortified foods, you also gain an array of other vitamins (rather than a single one) as well as the energy within the food. Overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins can be damaging; they are stored in the body and can reach toxic levels. Excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, just harmlessly flow out of the body with urine.
Armed with new knowledge about vitamins, scientists now have a better idea of what mother’s mean when they preach about the importance of a “healthy, balanced diet.” Sure enough, it is for your own good.
Sources:
Essential Vitamin Guide. 12 October 2006. <http://www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-114.jsp.>
Gordon, Dr. Jerry. How B Vitamins Work. Howstuffworks. 12 October 2006. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b.htm. >
Wikipedia. Scurvy. 12 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin B. 11 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins#Vitami n_B_Sources.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin C. 11 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C.>
Wikipedia. Vitamin D. 12 October 2006. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 12 October 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D#In_food .>
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