Vitamins Our Bodies Need

By Dr. Manuel J Sanchez Our bodies have specific nutritional requirements that need to be met in order for us to be healthy. For example, we need minerals like iron in order to form hemoglobin, a substance that is found in red blood cells that allows oxygen to be transported to all our cells. Vitamins are also essential substances that are needed to perform diverse functions in our bodies. A healthy diet will include fruits and vegetables loaded with vitamins in order to supply the demands of our bodies. Some vitamins do not need to be consumed because they can be manufactured by our bodies like vitamin D.

There are 13 essential vitamins that we need in our bodies and each has its own function. Vitamin A is needed to form metabolite, a substance that is needed in our eyes in order to have good night and color vision. Vitamin A in its diverse forms is contained in carrots, broccoli, leafy vegetables, eggs, milk, and other foods. Vitamin C is needed to perform many important metabolic reactions in the body and it has been proven to prevent scurvy, a rare condition that is characterized by bleeding of the gums, and sometimes bleeding of the skin, and bleeding in the eye. There a popular belief that vitamin C helps to reduce the chances of acquiring the common cold, this has not been proven yet, however it does help your body in many ways, including the immune system. Sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe and other fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin D is a really important vitamin that can be produced by our bodies when we are exposed to the sun. This way of obtaining vitamin D can be considered unsafe if the exposure is prolonged because of the danger involved by the exposure to UV light (which can cause skin cancer, photo-aging, melanoma if not protected properly) vitamin D can also be obtained from fortified foods and vitamin supplements. Another disadvantage of obtaining vitamin D by the exposure to the sun, is that we might not the amount that we actually need. Vitamin D is linked with the proper absorption of calcium in our bones and prevents rickets in little children. Research involving vitamin D is being done and the future holds many possibilities of learning the connections vitamin D has with heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

Vitamin K is linked with the manufacture of proteins required for blood clotting. Sources of vitamin K include cauliflower, spinach, soybeans, and cereals.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and is related to immune response as well. Sources of vitamin E include nuts, seeds, asparagus, spinach, asparagus, and corn. There are many types of B vitamins and their main purpose is to keep the skin healthy, to produce red blood cells, and to metabolize carbohydrates and proteins. Sources of vitamin B include dairy products, nuts, eggs, legumes, cereals, lean meats, etc.

We see that the thing that vitamins have in common is that most of them can be found in many fruits and vegetables. So to keep a healthy body we have to consume vegetables and fruits since they are rich in vitamin which as we have examined, perform many vital functions in our bodies. Also look in the labels of the products that you consume to check if they are fortified with the vitamins that you need. Keep in mind that excess vitamins can also harm you so make sure and consult your doctor in case you want to start vitamin supplements and do not what dosages are safe for you.

As a practicing primary care doctor, I do recommend for all my patients to take vitamins on a regular basis because most people don't always eat a healthy diet.

Why Our Body Needs Vitamins

 By Wendy Polisi
The word 'vitamin' is an abbreviated form of the words vital and amine which was coined in 1912 by Casimir Funk, a Polish Scientist. This was brought about by this micronutrient's ability to prevent a disease state thus Funk considered these chemicals amine of life. From then studies about these certain micronutrients have flourished and vitamins soon became a regular part of the present medical field.

But before a mineral is even considered a vitamin, it needs to undergo the scrutiny of health professionals. Deficiency of these minerals needs to exhibit a disease state or a significant risk to human health. Vitamins have a tremendous role in the normal body processes that inadequate amounts of these minerals will certainly result into a disease.

The medical field recognizes 13 vitamins which are categorized as either water or fat soluble. There are 4 fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and 9 water-soluble of which eight belong to the B-vitamin group and the other one is vitamin C. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins need to be abundant in our regular diet since they are easily excreted through our urine. But sadly, our diet does not contain enough amounts of these essential nutrients thus vitamin B deficiency is very common.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is said to affect a large part of the adult American population. Usually, this deficiency occurs as a result of two reasons - first is the body's inability to absorb enough quantities of this vitamin and second is poor diet. The latter appears to be a common cause for strict vegetarians who have inadequate intake of vitamin B12 food sources. On the other, the body's ability to absorb this vitamin can be affected by several factors. Gastrointestinal surgeries are likely to result to poor B12 absorption especially if the lower portion of the stomach is involved. It could also be a result of genetic predisposition such as lack of intrinsic factors. In this case, packing the diet with vitamin B12 would do no good. This is where B12 injections could be of great help. This form of supplementation is the best way to deliver the required quantities of vitamin B12. Some even use B12 shots for its added health benefits such as increased energy, enhancement of memory, and maintenance of proper balance and coordination. But before taking any high dose vitamin or medication, for that matter, you need to consult your physician.