Medical and Health Congress

Posts Tagged ‘Vitamin’

Vitamins are an important component of the human body. These organic compounds allow for proper regulation of everyday bodily functions that are necessary for survival. Each of the many known vitamins provides several benefits and is used for different tasks within the body.

Vitamin A
1. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin responsible for the growth and health of the bones and teeth. In addition, it helps to ensure clear and smooth skin.

Vitamin B12
2. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that directly affects the development and growth of red blood cells. It also helps to synthesize DNA, raises white blood cell counts and aids in growth.

Vitamin C
3. The water-soluble vitamin C is essential to hundreds of metabolic functions in the body. It aids in tissue growth, regulates red blood cells, maintains connective tissue and repairs glands.

Vitamin E
4. Vitamin E is fat-soluble and acts as an antioxidant. It repels unwanted cells and helps facilitate muscle function.

Vitamin K
5. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin used to increase bone density, prevent certain types of cancer and aid in pancreas function.

The body breaks down the foods we eat in order to use nutrients found in these items. While many people focus on eating healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy weight, not getting the proper nutrients can cause problems beyond weight gain. There are six types of nutrients, and within one type of nutrient group, vitamins, there are numerous types the body needs to survive.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are primarily responsible for fueling your body, giving you energy throughout the day. Some carbohydrates, like table sugar, are broken down very quickly for quick bursts of energy, while other carbohydrates, like whole grains, are more complex. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and thus fuel you with energy slowly throughout the day.

Fat
Fat is a nutrient that the body can store to provide energy when you do not eat enough carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrates can also be broken down and stored in the body as fat.

Protein
Protein provides the body with material to grow. Where carbohydrates and fats are broken down to produce energy, protein is broken down to give your body material for tissue repair and growth.

Water
Water is used by the body 24 hours a day, and at any given time, you are actually composed of 50 to 55 percent water. When the body breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it produces heat, and water helps keep your temperature regulated.Water is also used to transport other nutrients throughout the body.

Minerals
Minerals are nutrients that provide building material for your body, like protein. For example, the mineral calcium is used to build bones. Some minerals are also responsible for helping to regulate body functions.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the 13 vitamins that your body needs. This vitamin is an antioxidant, so its primary role is to protect your cells from harmful substances that are introduced to the body. It is also responsible for bone growth, vision, reproduction and improving the functions of your cells and immune system.

The B Vitamins
There are eight vitamins in the “B” category: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, biotin, B12 and folic acid. These vitamins all help the body process other nutrients from food, and they also form the red blood cells found in your circulatory system. Read the rest of this entry »