Vitamins are nutrients that are found in both plant and animal-based food sources. They are essential for the functioning of the human body and mind, and vitamin deficiencies can result in disease and permanent cellular damage. Some vitamins are stored in your body's fat tissues, and others are excreted from your body within one to four days, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Increasing your intake of certain vitamins may help to ensure optimal health.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it is not stored in your body's fat tissues. This vitamin is necessary for the proper function of your adrenal glands, which excrete stress-fighting hormones, according to Balch. Vitamin C also helps your body maintain proper immune system function, allowing it to ward off bacterial and viral infections. It has antioxidant properties, which may help to prevent tissue damage and cancer formation caused by the oxygenation of free radical molecules.
Vitamin E
Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant, and may be essential for cancer prevention, according to Balch. This fat-soluble vitamin helps to strengthen the walls of capillaries, blood vessels and arteries, and aids in the production of collagen, which may prevent scarring from wound healing. Vitamin E may also play a role in the prevention of cataracts.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that aids in the absorption of calcium from supplements and food sources, and may help prevent osteoporosis, or loss of bone density. This vitamin also encourages the formation of platelets that aid in blood clotting, which can help prevent excessive bleeding, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
B Complex Vitamins
B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that are necessary for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system, according to Balch. These vitamins include niacin, which is necessary for proper blood circulation; riboflavin, which aids in red blood cell production; pantothenic acid, which helps your body produce anti-stress hormones; and cobalamin, which stimulates production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter chemical necessary for memory and brain function.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A aids in the repair of skin and muscle tissue, and may help to prevent vision problems, according to Balch. This fat-soluble vitamin is also a potent antioxidant, and may strengthen your immune system to help protect you against influenza, colds and other viral infections.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
Member Comments