Vitamins: Nutritional Essentials

Although the U.S. has the most plentiful food supply inblood cells and is important for growth.
the world, it's sometimes difficult to get all of the
nutrition our bodies need. Our hectic lifestyles cause usVitamin B-3 (niacin) helps control cholesterol,
to eat out more and buy more prepared foods to eatprocesses alcohol, maintains healthy skin, and converts
at home. We eat fewer fresh fruits and vegetablescarbohydrates to energy.
and a greater quantity of nutritionally deficient snack
and fast foods than did our parents' generation.Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) serves several bodily
functions, such as converting fats to energy and
To ensure that we're consuming all of the nutrition oursynthesizing cholesterol.
bodies need, it's often wise to take a vitamin
supplement. Vitamins can fill in the nutritional gaps andVitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) is important in the production
shore up our immune systems and stamina. Someof hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and
vitamins and minerals even act as weight loss pills, bymelatonin, as well as for processing amino acids.
stimulating the body's fat-burning mechanism.
Vitamin B-12 is a crucial component of DNA replication
Although it's ideal to consume vitamins through theand nerve cell regulation. It is found in milk products,
foods you eat, vitamin supplements can serve topoultry, meat, and shellfish.
bridge the gap and provide a safety net for those
times when you have to grab a bite on the run.Vitamin C is important in wound healing and acts as
an antioxidant. It also helps the body absorb iron. It's
According to the National Institutes of Health, thirteenfound in citrus fruits, potatoes, and greens.
vitamins are essential for our bodies to function: A, C,
D, E, K and the eight B vitamins. Here's the lowdownVitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which
on eleven of the essentials:creates healthy bones and teeth. The body can
synthesize Vitamin D after exposure to sunshine, but it
Vitamin A is important for vision, reproductive function,can also be found in fortified milk products and cereals,
and normal cell reproduction. Beta-carotene, aas well as in fish.
precursor to Vitamin A, helps to fight disease-causing
free radicals. Vitamin A is found in milk products, organVitamin E helps to combat free radicals, which can
meats, and fish oils. Beta-carotene is found in colorfuldamage our cells. It's found in nuts and seeds, green
vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, andleafy vegetables, corn, asparagus, and wheat germ.
sweet potatoes.
Vitamin K is what makes the blot clot. While our
Vitamin B-1 (thiamin) processes carbohydrates intobodies produce some Vitamin K, it can also be found in
energy and is necessary for nerve cell function.vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage.Chris
Breads and cereals are often fortified with thiamin,Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of
though it is also found in whole grains, fish, lean meats,the worlds MOST popular internet marketing
and dried beans.companies on the web.
Visit this Health and Beauty Website and Majon's
Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) helps the production of redHealth and Beauty directory.