Vitamins – Vitamin Supplements
Vitamins are extremely essential for our good health. Until as late as early nineties, it was thought that our body will get enough of essential Vitamins and Minerals if we had a well balanced diet. But by mid nineties doctors discovered that our body needs vitamins and minerals supplement especially when the body is under stress. When it comes to the dosage of vitamins and mineral supplements, it is always advisable to be on excessive side, though mega doses are not advisable.
It was only in twentieth century that vitamins were manufactured as commodity chemicals and made extensively available in the form of pills, which we take as vitamin supplement.
Vitamins cannot be assimilated without ingesting food. This is why doctors suggest us to take vitamins with a meal. Vitamins help to regulate body metabolism and assist in forming the bone and tissue. However one has to remember that vitamins cannot replace Food. Vitamins are absolutely necessary for growth and general well being.
Vitamin A
It is a known fact that Vitamin A is good for the human eye. It is good for normal skin health. Vitamin A also helps the body tissues such as bones. Vitamin A also helps in our growth and reproduction system. Some of the main source of Vitamin A is Cod Liver Oil, carrot.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B are of eight different types. They are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12.Vitamin B helps Metabolism, helps the muscles to be in shape, promotes the growth of red blood cells etcetera. Vitamin B is water soluble, and hence should be replenished regularly. Turkey and meat products like liver are good source of Vitamin B. It can also be found in Lentils potatoes etcetera. Supplements for this vitamin are not hard to get.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably most commonly known of all the vitamins .Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant. It helps in healing of wounds and improves the immune system. It has been seen that moderately higher levels of Vitamin C reduces the risk of heart deceases. Kakadu plum and camu camu fruit is known to have highest concentration of Vitamin C. Supplements for this vitamin is commonly available in a super market.
Vitamin D
We get Vitamin D from sun exposure, supplements and food. Vitamin D helps in bone growth.. When exposed to sun, the body produces Vitamin D. Persons who do not get exposed to sun light have to take more amounts of Vitamin D supplement.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is the least known of all vitamins. A lot of research is still going on Vitamin E. Eggs, milk nuts, wheat germ and spinach is known to be a good source of Vitamin E. I have seen doctors prescribing Vitamin E supplement for some skin disorders.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is found primarily in green leafy vegetables like spinach and Cabbage Cauliflower. Parsley is rich in Vitamin K. Vitamin K deficiency is very rare in healthy adults and hence vitamin K supplement is rarely taken.