Body Fitness Tips

Common Vitamins

These days everyone has heard the world vitamins being spoken by doctors every now and then. Most people wonder what vitamins actually are and which vitamins do what for the body. Vitamins are among some of the building blocks of the human body.

Vitamins and other essential minerals are needed by the body for its healthy growth. Many diseases are caused by the deficiency of vitamins because it is only natural that if the materials essential for the construction of something are in deficiency then the structure would be weak and naturally would not last long.

There are generally 13 accepted vitamins by most nutritionists; which include some vitamins which are needed in high quantities because they are easily discharged from the body such as vitamin B-complex and vitamin C and also include other vitamins which are although essential but they also rarely deposit in the body and cause toxic reactions.

The basic purpose for vitamins is the production of energy and building of body tissues. They work along with other enzymes and minerals to complete this task. Following are some of the most common vitamins;

Vitamin A is although very essential for the body but high doses of this vitamin can cause it to accumulate in the body because it is fat soluble and thus can cause toxic reactions in the body. Never the less, vitamin A is very essential for cell reproduction, vision, immunity, and healing. It has also been observed that it also prevents cancer infections and helps in fighting against it.

B-complex vitamins are very essential for the body as they help in boosting immunity of the body and also help in the production of red blood cells. It also plays an important role in hormone balance and in prevention against nervous disorders.

It is also very essential for the normal functioning of the bio-electric functioning of the central nervous system. However, large quantities may become dangerous for some people and one should consult one’s doctor before taking large quantities of vitamins.

Vitamin C is perhaps the most commonly known vitamin of all. Studies have shown that large quantities of vitamin C boost the immune system of the body and those who consume optimal quantities of this vitamin are more immune to cancer and heart diseases than those who lack vitamin C quantities in their body.

It is also very essential for the building of body structures and also plays an important part in healing of wounds.

Vitamin E is also a very essential nutrient for the body as it helps in protection from free radicals and other harmful particles in the body. It also helps in developing immunity from cancer and heart diseases.

Vitamins Overview

Vitamins are usually organic substances that are mainly divided in to two main categories:

• Water-soluble Vitamins: Vitamin B group and vitamin C, or ascorbic acid is water soluble. They are not stored in our body for so long.

• Fat-soluble Vitamins: Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins and are absorbed and digested by the fats stored in our body.

Vitamins Overview is a vast topic so we have covered few areas.

The word vitamin is originated from “vitamine”, that was first used in 1911 for the group of compounds that were vital for life and each was imagined to have nitrogen containing component known as amine. But later it was discovered that not all vitamins contain nitrogen and neither all of them are amines.

Vitamins are not the source of energy to our body but they are essential for our life as they help in extracting energy known as coenzymes. They help to convert fat and carbohydrates to energy that helps in forming bones and tissues.

Vitamins and minerals help in preventing diseases that are caused due to the nutritional deficiencies such as scurvy, rickets, pellagra and beriberi. Vitamins protect us from heart damage and cancer. Vitamin C and E are when combined in high doses; it helps to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamins are not made in our body except for vitamin D that is made in our skin. They must be taken from dietary supplements. Vitamins we need depend much on our intake. Good sources should be taken daily.

If you are in a state of good health then you can take vitamins from balanced diet but if your metabolism is altered then you have to take additional vitamins because it will slow natural process of healing and repair.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), there is a misconception about this term, it is not the recommended intake of vitamins daily rather it provides you the guide for minimum intake of vitamins required to prevent deficiency in healthy people with good health and ability to maintain their nutritional status.

Other Nutritional Measures:

Following are the other nutritional measures:

• RDA’s
• Adequate Intakes(AI)
• Estimated Average Intakes(EAR)
• Tolerable Upper Intakes(UL)

Finally we conclude that vitamins are very important for our lives and good multivitamin intake is the base for better health and nutrition.