Vitamin Power

By: Suzanna Harmening                                             

“It’s vitamin time!!”  Every morning I sing these words loudly to my three children.  After breakfast one passes out vitamins to the other two.  They take a chewable Flintstone vitamin, a vitamin C, and a vitamin D chew.  It’s a daily routine that will ensure they are getting the proper nutrition along with their foods. 

Many of us do not get the required amount of vitamins needed due to:

·         Improper diet

·         High stress

·         Improper Digestion

·         Lack of Vitamins in our Current Foods

Food acts as fuel to our body, so if that food does not contain the essential thirteen vitamins that our body needs, then our body will not function to its fullest capacity.  Vitamins are necessary to make molecular reactions happen, once broke down; they help different parts of our body function.  The following is “the big 13” our body needs and their key role:

1.      Vitamin A      This helps promote healthy eye functions, helps ward off bacterial infection, and helps maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails.

2.      Vitamin B1    This is also called thiamine.  It assists in transforming carbohydrates into energy and is essential in the functioning of the nervous system, heart, and muscles.

3.      Vitamin B6     This vitamin helps to ward off many diseases due to its role in the synthesis of antibodies by the immune system.   It benefits the body to form red blood cells, maintains nerve functions, and aids protein intake in the digestive system. 

4.      Vitamin B2     This is also called riboflavin.  It helps with body growth, red cell production, and also helps to release energy into our body from carbohydrates.  

5.      Vitamin B3     This is also called niacin.  This vitamin supports the digestive tract, skin, and nerves.  Once again, it also helps to turn food into energy.

6.      Vitamin B12    This vitamin maintains the central nervous system, the production of red blood cells, and as all B vitamins do, is very critical in metabolism.

7.      Vitamin C       This vitamin helps to boost the immune system, promotes wound healing, healthy teeth and gums, and helps to absorb iron.

8.      Vitamin D       This assists in maintaining adequate levels of phosphorus and calcium, maintains healthy teeth and gums, and helps to absorb calcium.  Recently, Vitamin D was found to aid in the immune system.

9.      Vitamin E       This vitamin is an antioxidant that shields your body tissue against free radicals which damage organs, cells, and tissue.  Also it helps to form red blood cells and enable vitamin K.

10.    Vitamin K      This vitamin plays a very important role in blood clotting, without Vitamin K, blood would not clot.  Also it helps to maintain strong bones.

11.    Folate     Also known as folic acid, it helps to produce red blood cells, and for the synthesis of DNA.  It aids in cell functions and tissue growth, also it helps to increase your appetite and helps to form digestive acids.  Along with vitamin C and B12, folate guides protein to where it is needed and helps the digestive system.   

12.   Panthothenic Acid   This is a vital synthesis of cholesterol and hormones.  Also it is needed for the metabolism of your food. 

13.   Biotin    Just like panthothenic acids, biotin is essential for your metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins, also the control of your cholesterol and hormones.  Both biotin and panthothenic acids are a complex of the B vitamin. 

The most desirable way to get your everyday need of required vitamins is to take a daily multivitamin and eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods.  I personally recommend anything from the GNC brand.  They are based right here in the Pittsburgh area and all supplements are made in the U.S.A. by quality ingredients.  By ensuring your proper intake of vitamins and nutrition and along with adequate exercise, you hold the key to infinite immunity.  Here is a link to the basic guidelines to vitamins:   http://www.vitaminsupplementsguide.com/ . It’s your body, treat it like a temple!!

Check back on March 18^th when we learn the importance of Vitamin D and how effective it is for your immune system.  

Source:

Chong, Danial. "The 13 Essential Vitamins." Vitamin Conversation. Renaissance Associates, Inc., 2008. Web. 1 Mar 2011. <http://www.vitaminconversation.com/vitamins-E1.html>.