Your body needs vitamins in order to function properly. Your body can only make three vitamins on its own: biotin and vitamins D and K. It's still important to include these vitamins in your diet in addition to all the other vitamins. Including a wide variety of foods in your diet will help ensure that you get all of the vitamins you need.
Vitamins A, C and E
Vitamins A, C and E all contain antioxidant properties that can help destroy free radicals. Free radicals are toxins and pollutants that can speed up the aging process, increase the risk of cancer and other health related diseases such as heart disease. Since these vitamins can help destroy free radicals, they can help slow down the aging process to help keep you more youthful and possibly prevent certain diseases and cancer from attacking your body or help reduce the damage caused by certain pollutants such as the damage caused by cigarette smoke to your lungs. All of these vitamins help heal wounds and keep organs healthy. Vitamin A is also important for good eyesight as it allows you to see colors and see in the dark.
Vitamins D and K
Your body can produce the vitamins D and K, in addition to biotin, on its own, but you should still include these vitamins in your diet. Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin, according to MedlinePlus, because your body can make vitamin D after sunlight exposure. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium as well as maintain calcium and phosphorus levels within your body. According to MedlinePlus, even those who live in sunny climates may develop vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin K helps your blood coagulate, or stick together. This is especially important when you injure yourself or bleed during surgery. If your blood were not able to coagulate, or clot, you could bleed to death.
B Vitamins
B vitamins, also referred to as vitamin B complex, is a group of vitamins consisting of biotin, niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, folic acid, colabamin and pyridoxine. Out of these eight B vitamins, you body can only manufacture biotin on its own. B vitamins help your body form red blood cells and are essential for growth and development as well as digestion and your nervous system. B vitamins help breakdown food into energy that your body can use, regulate metabolism and are important for maintaining healthy hair, skin and fingernails.
Sources
Including leafy green vegetables in your diet can provide your body with plenty of B vitamins as well as vitamins E and K. Most cereals and milk are fortified with vitamins A and D and B vitamins, in addition to important trace minerals such as iron and calcium. Carrots, melons, berries and other citrus fruits can replenish your body with vitamins A, C and E.
Member Comments