Like certain minerals, vitamins provide your body with essential nutrients that help boost the health and strength of various systems. Although a well-balanced diet may provide adequate amounts of these essential nutrients, many individuals take vitamin supplements to fortify their bodies, strengthen their immune systems and promote good health. Certain vitamins can help to improve your physical strength and stamina while others may help strengthen your memory and improve mental functioning.
Vitamin A
Not only does this vitamin help to strengthen your eyesight, it helps bones and teeth grow. While your body may absorb vitamin A from certain foods, it also converts carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, into vitamin A. The carotenoids in carrots help supply your body with this nutritious ingredient. Food sources that contain vitamin A or beta-carotene include spinach, pumpkin, cantaloupe, liver, milk and eggs.
B Vitamins
B Vitamins strengthen your body in numerous areas. They help to fortify your nervous system, digestive system and skin. These important vitamins also help your body maintain energy. Food sources for B vitamins give you many healthy choices, such as whole grains, dairy products, fish, poultry, peanuts, soybeans and sunflower seeds.
Vitamin C
This antioxidant vitamin performs many necessary functions and increases the flow of oxygen throughout your brain and body systems, including your muscles. The American Pregnancy Association advises that vitamin C helps build a helps build a healthy immune system. This may strengthen your resistance to certain diseases and infections. A large variety of food contains high levels of vitamin C. Include citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans and strawberries in your diet.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays an important role in developing healthy bones, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This vitamin helps your body assimilate calcium and phosphorus, creating strong bones and teeth. It helps guard against disorders that weaken your bones, such as osteoporosis and rickets. Although many multi-vitamins contain this necessary nutrient, your body can also use sunshine to produce vitamin D. Many fortified foods, such as cereals and milk, contain added amounts of vitamin D. Eating fatty fish can also increase the amount of vitamin D in your body.
Vitamin E
Like vitamin C, vitamin E works as an antioxidant in your body, fighting free radicals that may weaken and damage your cells. Vitamin E helps your body form healthy blood cells and muscles. Eating foods prepared with vegetable oils, as well as consuming nuts, wheat germ and spinach can help provide adequate amounts of vitamin E.
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