The Importance of Vitamins
There are about eleven types of vitamins, which are essential for the human body. Our body needs whole vitamins, which are found naturally in the foods such as grains, vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for the proper functioning of our eye and it also acts as an antioxidant preventing certain oxidizing chemical reactions, which cause harm to our body. Vitamin A can be obtained from green leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrot, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, papaya etc.
Lack of Vitamin A can cause problems related to eyesight such as night blindness.
Vitamin B
The B group vitamins include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, cyanocobalamin and biotin. These are essential for the proper functioning of our nervous system and for the conversion of food in to energy by the body. It is also essential for the proper functioning of various metabolic activities of our body.
Vitamin B is available from whole grains, beans, fish, lean meat, fruits and vegetables, dry fruits, nuts, milk, egg, soy beans, etc. Vitamin B-12 can be obtained only from animal sources such as liver, egg, meat, cheeses etc. B group vitamins are essential for the amino acid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and for the healthy skin.
Insufficient Vitamin B can cause diseases like Beriberi, Anemia, poor resistance to diseases
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be obtained from citrus fruits such as lemon, sweet lime, oranges, grapes, grapefruit etc. Vitamin C is essential for the prevention of diseases and infection. It also helps in the absorption of iron.
Lack of Vitamin C causes gum bleeding, weakness, loss of appetite, tiredness
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight. It is essential for the bones and teeth. It is also needed for the growth of our body.
Insufficient vitamin D causes deformation of bones and teeth
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant. It can be obtained from whole grains, asparagus, wheat germ, corn, green leafy vegetables, spinach and seeds especially sunflower seeds.
Lack of vitamin E can cause nerve damage.
Deficiency of vitamins in food leads to poor health. An effective way of filling the nutritional gaps due to poor eating habits is the use of vitamin supplements. These vitamin supplements can help us to boost our immune system and to build up stamina.
