Sometimes vitamins are used as therapies for various ailments and disease. We must get vitamins from our natural foods or dietary supplements. You can also buy vitamin supplements to increase the level of a particular vitamin your body can use. Below listed are the various vitamins and their benefits.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat soluable vitamin, meaning that it needs fats and minerals for proper absorption. Retinol Vitamin A comes from animal food sources and is stored in the body, whereas Beta-carotene Vitamin A comes from both plant and animal sources, and is not stored in the body. Retinol Vitamin A benefits your vision, tissues, skin, teeth, hair, nails and bones in many ways.
Possible Benefits of Vitamin A
Helps improve vision. And protects against formation of cataracts.
Inhibits cancerous growth and may reverse precancerous conditions.
Antioxidant properties help prevent heart disease and reduce risk of heart attack and stroke.
Powerful immune protector.
Antioxidant properties may be helpful for Alzheimers, chronic fatigue syndrome, male infertility and fribromyalgia.
Promotes wellness of bones, eyes, hair, mucous linings, membranes, nails, skin and teeth.
Food Sources
Dark green leafy vegetables and yellow, orange or red fruits and vegetables: sweet potatos, carrots, cantaloupe, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, fish liver oils, liver, kale, turnip greens, squash, tomatos, pumpkin, peaches, mangos, apricots, milk and dairy products.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) is a water soluble vitamin, meaning any excess is excreted and not stored in the body. It is known as a “morale booster” since it affords beneficial effects on the nervous system and in a person’s mental disposition. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) is necessary to convert carbohydrates from food into energy. It plays a key role in reactions that lead to the formation of energy (along with riboflavin and niacin), and this energy metabolism process is needed for growth, physical movement, nerve functioning, and most body processes.
Possible Benefits
Aids in energy production and efficient energy metabolism.
Promotes growth and healthy nerves – stress relief.
Aids digestion, particularly carbohydrates.
Improves mental attitude and mental clarity.
Strengthens the heart.
Keeps nervous system, muscles, and heart functioning normally.
Soothes heartburn and helps fight airsickness or seasickness.
Studies have shown it aids in lowered blood pressure, weight loss, better sleep and increased energy.
Food Sources
Grains, meats, sunflower seeds, pork, bran cereal, peas, fish, beef, liver, ham, peanuts, almonds, macaroni, rice, bread, lima beans, corn, broccoli, potato, orange juice, orange, avocado, dried beans, oatmeal, milk and dried yeast.
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) is a water soluble vitamin, meaning any excess is excreted and not stored in the body. People have an increased need for Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) in stress situations, and it is the most common vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B-2 is easily destroyed by light, water when cooking, sulfa drugs, estrogen, and alcohol consumption.
Possible Benefits
Aids in growth and reproduction.
Benefits vision, alleviates eye fatigue, and prevents/delays onset of cataracts.
Reduces the frequency and severity of migraines by increasing energy to the brain.
Promotes healthy skin, nails, and hair.
Works as an antioxidant booster to fight free radicals, fight cancer, and strengthen the lens of the eye.
Helps eliminate sore mouth, lips, and tongue.
Helps metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy.
May be important for healthy nerves.
Speeds healing of wounds, injuries, and after-surgery recovery.
May help with many nerve-related and other ailments: Alzheimers, numbness & tingling, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis.
May help with sickle-cell anemia if have riboflavin deficiency.
Beneficial for anxiety, stress, and fatigue.
Food Sources
Milk, yogurt, American cheese, cheddar cheese, liver, pork chop, beef, egg, tuna, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, macaroni, bread, liver, cereals, avocados, mushrooms, kidney, yeast and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) is a water soluble vitamin, meaning any excess is excreted and not stored in the body. This important vitamin performs more than 100 functions over and over during a day’s time, and must be present for the production of antibodies and red blood cells. Women taking oral contraceptives, adolescent girls, and pregnant women may especially have low levels of Vitamin B-6, making them prone to depression and other ailments.
Possible Benefits
Helps prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Assists in proper assimilation of protein and fat.
Clears excess estrogen from the body and can alleviate PMS (premenstrual syndrome).
Works as building block for brain neurotransmitters and may reduce epileptic seizures.
Helps prevent various nervous and skin disorders.
Alleviates nausea and morning sickness.
Eases insomnia.
Treats carpal tunnel syndrome by alleviating nerve inflammation in the wrist.
Helps relieve asthma attacks.
May relieve depression, stress, and anxiety in those deficient of this vitamin.
Promotes proper synthesis of anti-aging nucleic acids.
Reduces night muscle spasms, leg cramps, hand numbness, and some neuritis conditions.
Food Sources
Liver, salmon, fish, chicken, ham, hamburger, veal, eggs, pork, beef, split peas, dried beans, banana, avocado, watermelon, turnip greens, brussel sprouts, potato, sweet potato, carrots, peas, chickpeas, brewer’s yeast, wheat bran, wheat germ, kidney, heart, cantaloupe, cabbage, blackstrap molasses, and milk.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) is a water soluble vitamin and is effective in very small dosages. It’s not a typical vitamin, for it is produced only by microorganisms and is found nearly exclusively in foods of animal origin. Vegetarians or people with low intakes of animal products are at the greatest risk for a deficiency of Vitamin B-12, as well as people with gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, gout, chronic heartburn, and excessive alcohol drinkers.
Possible Benefits
Prevent anemia by forming and regenerating red blood cells.
Help maintain a healthy nervous system and reduce depression and irritability.
Alleviate nerve pain, numbness, and tingling.
Enhance proper utilization of fats, carbohydrates, and protein.
Increase energy.
Reduce heart disease risks.
Sharpen mental agility, concentration, memory, and balance due to its “brain booster” effects.
May improve multiple sclerosis and tinnitus.
Promote growth and increase appetite in children.
Keeps the immune system healthy.
May slow the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.
Improve ability to fight off disease.
Food Sources
Liver, trout, beef, clams, crab, lamb, tuna, veal, hamburger, eggs, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, brewer’s yeast, oysters, sardines, and organ meats.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), a water soluble vitamin, is a potent antioxidant and studies suggest that this nutrient may prevent premature death from heart disease and cancer. Besides its antioxidant benefits, Vitamin C plays a primary role in collagen formation which is essential for the growth and repair of tissue cells, gums, blood vessels, bones, and teeth. Smokers and older people have a greater need for this vitamin.
Possible Benefits
Protection against cancer and heart disease.
Strengthens immunity and may prevent colds or minimize them through its mild antihistamine effects.
Potent antioxidant and raises blood glutathione, another antioxidant produced by the body.
Helps prevent cataracts.
Increases iron absorption.
Acidifies urine to prevent some types of kidney and bladder infections (urinary tract infections).
Helps treat asthma.
Promotes healthy gums.
Assists in lowering blood cholesterol.
Prevents many types of viral and bacterial infections.
Acts as a natural laxative.
Lowers blood clot incidences.
Reduces allergy-producing effects of many substances.
Prevents scurvy.
Extends life by enabling protein cells to hold together.
Food Sources
Kiwi fruit, orange, orange juice, cantaloupe, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, grapefruit, strawberries, watermelon, grape juice, raspberries, green peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, collard greens, potato, tomato, sweet potato, and red peppers.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) is a fat soluble vitamin often referred to as the sunshine vitamin because the ultraviolet B rays of the sun causes skin oils to produce this vitamin. Light-skinned people get the RDA of Vitamin D with 30 minutes of sunlight exposure twice a week, and darker-skinned people require longer exposures for the light to penetrate the skin. Since the body’s ability to manufacture Vitamin D declines with age, older people (and people who don’t go outside much) may become deficient in this vitamin. Vitamin D’s importance is its role of making calcium and phosphorus available for the body to use.
Possible Benefits
Helps prevent osterporosis.
Promote healthy bones and strong teeth.
Helps absorption of the minerals calcium and phosphorus.
Prevents rickets in children and
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