Vita-Man
Vitamins are nutrients that your body needs everyday to stay healthy. You get vitamins from the foods you eat. Vitamins are essential for good health because they do so many different things in your body. For example, vitamins are necessary for cells to carry on their activities including making membranes and performing reactions leading to various functions.
Use your mouse to roll over the body parts to learn more about how each vitamin can help your body.
There are two different types of vitamins, water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and cannot be stored in your body. They get into your bloodstream and your body uses what it needs. All the water-soluble vitamins that your body doesn't use are released in your urine. Since this type of vitamin can't be stored in your body, they need to be replenished everyday. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in fats and can be stored in your body for awhile. They are stored in your body fat until you need them. Since this type of vitamin can be stored, they only need to be replenished every 2 to 3 days. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K.
It is important to know that it is much better to get vitamins from wholesome foods than from taking pills or supplements. It is much better to eat a healthy balanced diet than to try to use pills or supplements to make up for a poor diet. Some vitamin pills can even be toxic or poisonous if taken in large quantities.
Vitamin C helps build strong bones, gums, and teeth. It also helps form hormones.
Not enough Vitamin C can lead to bleeding gums and scurvy.
Strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, cabbages, and peppers are all good sources of Vitamin C.
Folic acid helps your body make DNA and proteins, and it also maintains the digestive tract.
Not enough folic acid can result in defects in babies, vascular and heart disease, depression, and memory loss.
Good sources of folic acid are dark leafy vegetables, yeast, and wheat germ.
Vitamin B6 helps with the development of the nervous system and blood.
Not enough Vitamin B6 in your diet can result in nerve and muscle disorders.
Include Vitamin B 6 as part of your diet by eating meats, nuts, beans, fish, rice, vegetables and yeast.
Vitamin EVitamin E helps form and protect body tissues and aids in the maintenance of red blood cells. A deficiency in Vitamin E may result in anemia. Eat vegetable oil, margarine, green leafy vegetables, whole-grain food, seeds, and nuts to ensure you are getting enough Vitamin E.
Vitamin A is necessary for good vision and healthy skin and hair.
Not having enough Vitamin A can cause blindness and scaling skin.
Add Vitamin A to your diet by eating eggs, cheese, carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, and fortified milk.
Vitamin D helps build strong bones and teeth by helping your body absorb and use calcium.
Not receiving enough Vitamin D can cause Rickets, a disease that causes an abnormal softening of bones.
Eggs, tuna, salmon, fortified milk,and a little bit of sunshine will help you get enough Vitamin D.
Vitamin K helps blood clot. Vitamin K deficiency may result in heavy menstrual bleeding, nose bleeds, and gum bleeds. Get plenty of Vitamin K in your diet by eating broccoli, spinach, milk, and liver.