Tocotrienols are antioxidants that are part of the vitamin E family; they provide a number of health benefits. This nutrient is not commonly found in a wide range of foods, but you can find them in some natural foods, as well a...
High potency vitamins provide megadoses of vitamins that far exceed the recommended daily intake. Like any other dietary supplements, vitamins can be dangerous when consumed in excessive amounts, so always consult your doctor b...
In these cases, supplementation or eating more health food products high in vitamin D may be required for optimal health.
Vitamins are organic substances, made by animals and plants, while minerals are inorganic elements, absorbed by plants from the soil and water. Only a few foods contain all three -- vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc. The best way t...
Low in calories and free of fats and cholesterol, cucumbers provide vitamins and other nutrients, such as potassium, manganese, silica and molybdenum. Combining with foods containing fiber, folic acid and vitamins A, C and K, s...
B vitamins are water-soluble and not stored by your body -- you must consume them daily from foods in your diet. B vitamins are found in a wide variety of foods including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, vegetables, legumes and
Your body requires adequate vitamin D for building strong bones and for efficient calcium absorption. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements reports that many North Americans are deficient in the vita...
Thiamine was also the first natural compound classified as a vitamin. You can get vitamin B1 from a wide variety of foods in every major food group, although there are a select few foods that contain the highest amounts of thia...
This vitamin is found in a wealth of plant-based foods, making it easy for lacto-ovo vegetarians, who do not consume meat, to obtain vitamin C.
Vitamin E limits the production of chemicals called free radicals, which can damage your body tissues and organs. The functions of your immune and circulatory systems are also supported by vitamin E. A variety of foods contain ...
The vitamin is also essential to bone health, preventing fractures and osteoporosis. Bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract produce vitamin K, but high amounts are also available in a variety of healthy foods.
What makes vitamin D additionally unique is that you can absorb your recommended daily value of it when sunlight touches your body for at least 15 minutes; this is most effective when you are in direct rays during the summer mo...
Vitamin B6 is important for immune support, red blood cell formation and cellular metabolism. These vitamins are essential for a healthy body and can be obtained in supplement form. However, many foods are also rich in these vi...
Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and maintaining bone health. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a vitamin K deficiency is not common. This is because many foods contain vitamin K, and it...
The liver uses vitamin K to create proteins needed for proper blood clotting. Vitamin K deficiency rarely occurs just from not eating vitamin K-rich foods, but may result after a lengthy course of antibiotics or when your body ...
Vitamin C raises glutathione levels in the blood. Therefore, adequate amounts of dietary vitamin C are vital to the body and the skin. Large doses of vitamin C are beneficial in treating inflammation and skin damage, and ultima...
The flu is a highly contagious illness that affects the respiratory tract. Your chances of catching the flu are greatest during the flu season, which oftentimes begins in October and can last through May. While symptoms can be ...
Multivitamins are an easy way to get the vitamins and minerals your diet may lack. While it may seem like a good thing could be made better by upping the doses and taking a "high potency" multivitamin instead, odds are you don'...
Vitamin K is essential in allowing the blood to clot. If blood did not clot, then an open wound could continue to bleed, resulting in death. Vitamin K is also essential for ensuring the health of the bones. According to Seizer...
Vitamin B6 is used for breaking down stored glucose -- in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles -- into usable energy. While vitamin B6 is found in both animal and plant foods, it is best absorbed from animal foods. Vit...
Vitamin K-2 is not widely available in supplement form due to its high cost, but it is found naturally in a number of different foods.
B vitamins also help make red blood cells, a source of oxygen in the body, and assist with skin and digestive health. Foods high in vitamin B may help prevent some types of cancer and play a role in making DNA.
While a raw diet ensures retention of all the vitamins in a given food, some foods taste better and become more digestible when cooked. Legumes, for example, become more digestible because heat deactivates trypsin inhibitors, s...
Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene are all considered antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. Free radical damage within cells can lead to canc...
Maintaining an adequate level of vitamin D may lower the risk of other diseases. Sunshine provides a source of vitamin D, as do liver and certain types of fish. Supplements are also available. Several foods can supply vitamin D...
Vitamin B12 is naturally present in foods from animals and is added in some fortified foods. The body uses B12 to make red blood cells, synthesize DNA and support neurological function, notes the National Institutes of Health's...
Your body, specifically the large intestine, makes about 1/2 of the vitamin K it needs -- the rest must come from your diet. The primary role of vitamin K is in aiding in normal blood clotting and forming bone. The recommended ...
Most people get all the B vitamins from a balanced diet that includes five servings of fruits and vegetables, plus grains.
Women older than 18 years of age also require at least 75 mg vitamin C daily, while men older than age 18 need about 90 mg a day. Only a limited number of foods are high in magnesium and vitamin C. A few plant-based foods, howe...
Your body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium from your diet; some foods that can provide both vitamin D and calcium are fortified milk, some types of fish and fortified oatmeal.
During pregnancy you will need to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet filled with a variety of nutritious foods. Vitamin A is one of the essential vitamins you will need while your baby grows, because it promotes the developme...
According to the National Institutes of Health, breastfed infants, older adults, people with limited sun exposure and people with dark skin are among those at highest risk for vitamin D deficiency. Your body needs vitamin D to ...
The Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) daily for adults to avoid deficiency symptoms, but the Recommended Daily Value, or DV, for this nutrient is higher, 6.0mcg, according to the Food and Dru...
This vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, can be taken as a supplement but may be better absorbed and more readily available for the body to use when consumed in whole foods.
Not all foods are created equal. Some foods and food groups provide higher levels of vitamins and minerals than others. The human body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals for optimum health, according to the United States ...
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to weakness, fatigue or anemia, or neurological conditions such as tingling in the hands and feet, dementia or loss of balance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, lists a recommend...
Vitamin C and potassium are two micronutrients essential for human health. Vitamin C is important for proper immune system function, wound healing, healthy gums and collagen production, while potassium is needed to maintain flu...
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is required to produce healthy skin and metabolize proteins in the body, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, meaning it is able to fi...
Vitamin D also helps regulate your immune system and may help prevent cancer, notes UMMC. Only a few foods are naturally high in vitamin D3. If you are worried about not getting enough vitamin D3 in your diet, consult with you ...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which your body uses to regulate calcium absorption. It also helps the body maintain proper amounts of calcium and phosphorus in the blood stream. The recommended daily allowance for adults up...
Eating organic whole foods rich in vitamin D2 is important to overall health. Vitamin D2 allows calcium to be more easily absorbed by the body, decreasing the risk for osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. Vitamin D2 ...
According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin E is an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect our cells from free radicals, which we are exposed to through the foods we eat and also through our environment. Boosting your vi...
Vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are both water-soluble vitamins and are considered essential in maintaining your body's health. Vitamin B6 is used by enzymes for protein metabolism, for red blood cell metabolism, to make hemoglobin ...
According to the Micronutrient Information Center at Oregon State University, vitamin B12 has the most complex and greatest chemical structure among all vitamins. Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that contains a metal ion, cobal...
Antioxidants promote cellular health and prevent harmful free-radical molecules that lead to certain diseases. A diet consisting of a variety of citrus fruits, vegetables and nuts can provide significant amounts of vitamins C a...
For example, the presence of potassium is needed for the activity of an important enzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates, pyruvate kinase. You can obtain both vitamin E and potassium through select foods.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is essential for calcium regulation in your body.
Vitamin D works closely with the parathyroid hormone to regulate your body's use of calcium and phosphorus. If your vitamin D intak...
Boron and vitamins are vital for optimal health. Boron is a trace mineral which is important for improving conditions such as menopausal symptoms, allergies, Candida albicans, arthritis, osteoarthritis, aging and lupus. Vitamin...
Iron helps carry oxygen through the bloodstream, promotes the production of collagen and aids the body in fighting infections. Each is necessary for proper health and growth, but only a few foods contain them both in abundance....
Vitamin A is one of several vitamins essential for good health. It exists in two forms: retinol and carotenoids. Retinol is only found in animal-derived foods, while some fruits and vegetables contain certain carotenoids the bo...
Though dietary supplements can provide both nutrients, a healthy diet is the prime means for maintaining nutritional health, according to the American Dietetic Association. For best results, consume a variety of vitamin C- and ...
You'll often find the vitamin in B-complex nutritional supplements or in multivitamins. You can also get the vitamin through the food you eat. The University of Michigan Health System says you should get 10 to 25 mg of vitamin ...
Your skin naturally synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, but your body can only produce sufficient vitamin D from sunlight all year long if you live below 34 degrees latitude.
That leaves any...
Vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium all act as antioxidants, which can protect your cell membranes and DNA from damage. These important nutrients can be found in many foods and eating a balanced, healthy diet can help you make su...
Vitamin D aids in the development and protection of your teeth and bones by helping calcium and magnesium absorb. According to the Institute of Medicine, the adequate intake of vitamin D for adults 19 to 50 years of age is 200 ...
Vitamin E is an antioxidant agent in your body that prevents damage to your cellular growth and development from free radicals such as pollutants in the air. Vitamin E supports your immune system, tissue and red blood cells. Ac...
Vitamin D, in its dihydroxy-vitamin D form, is a significant immune-system modulator, meaning it helps your body build defenses to a variety of illnesses. Vitamin D also helps your body absorb magnesium and calcium, which are v...
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen to the tissues, and myoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen to the muscles. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and regulating blood calcium levels. It is also ...
On the stage of nutrition, vitamin D has stolen the spotlight. In addition to its critical role in bone health, emerging research suggests the vitamin may also improve conditions ranging from cancer to depression. As the benefi...
These antioxidants help protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals, improving the skin's appearance and giving you a greater level of energy. Since this vitamin isn't formed naturally in the body, it's necessary to...
While vitamin K deficiencies are rare, illnesses such as gallbladder disease, celiac or Crohn's disease or liver disease can deplete vitamin K levels. Fortunately, there are good sources of vitamin K in the foods we eat.
Vitamin D consists of two separate forms of the vitamin. The first form, D2 or ergocalciferol, is found more commonly in plants. According to the World's Healthiest Foods website, the animal- based form of vitamin D, cholecalci...
MedlinePlus explains that folic acid is especially essential during pregnancy for the proper development of the fetus and can help prevent congenital birth defects, such as the spinal cord deformity known as spina bifida. While...
Niacin, or as it is more commonly known, vitamin B3, is an important nutrient within the human diet. Vitamin B3 supports metabolic activities, including the conversion of carbohydrates into energy. Significant deficiency in the...
Riboflavin, more commonly referred to as vitamin B2, is an essential nutrient for the health and maintenance of human body. Vitamin B2 helps convert carbohydrates into fuel. According to the University of Michigan, vitamin B2 a...
Free radicals can damage cells and may promote heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. Vitamins E, C and A have antioxidant properties. Some forms of these vitamins may be considered high in antioxidants, because specific fo...
While there are many varieties of vitamin E, the only form easily converted and used by the body is known as alpha-tocopherol. The recommended daily amount of dietary amount of this form is 15 to 20 milligrams per day for adult...
Vitamin E also has antioxidant properties that protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals believed to cause aging. A well-balanced diet provides the recommended daily allowance suggested by the Institute of Medici...
Folate is a B vitamin that is necessary in the body for the formation and maintenance of cells, in particular red blood cells. Women who are pregnant also need to need consume adequate amounts of folate to prevent birth defects...
Vitamin E occurs naturally in common foods such as leafy green vegetables, lean proteins such as nuts, and whole grains. Vitamin E performs several functions in the body that are essential for optimal health. Eight different an...
Medline Plus notes that vitamin K deficiency is rare and generally occurs when your body can't properly absorb the vitamin from the intestinal tract.
However, some individuals on blood thinner medication, such as Coumadin m...
Ascorbic acid, commonly called vitamin C, is an essential part of a healthy diet. Responsible for supporting the formation of tissues within the body, vitamin C helps build proteins that are important for maintaining the health...
Often referred to as bitter melon or bitter gourd, its fruit is used in both food preparation and alternative medicines. The juice, seeds and oil extract of the unripened fruit are thought to hold medicinal qualities due to the...
It is a member of the Rose family and native to the Texas prairies of the United States. The climbing prairie rose presents conspicuous pink flowers that gradually fade to white on climbing or trailing vines or shrubs each May....
A vitamin K deficiency is rare because the body makes and conserves vitamin K, says the Linus Pauling Institute. There are also a number of food sources. People who take Coumadin--a medication which helps prevent blood clots--m...
Insufficient vitamin B1 can cause physical conditions such as fatigue, nerve damage, psychosis and even brain damage. Vitamin B1 is available as a dietary supplement, but you can also get a sufficient amount from eating certain...
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), vitamin B17, also known as laetrile and amygdlain, is claimed to be an alternative cancer therapy. However the NIH says these assertions are not supported by sound clinical d...
It is actually a name given to bioflavinoids, which help vitamin C in performing its functions. A diet high in vitamin P will help strengthen capillaries and promote circulatory health. It may surprise you when looking at a lis...
The adrenal glands help our bodies to adapt to stress and respond to crises. They produce stress hormones and epinephrine in order to accomplish this function. To support the function of the adrenals, supplements that help the ...
When deficiency does occur, symptoms may include a loss of appetite, numbness or "pins and needles" in the legs, and muscle tenderness. Severe deficiency may lead to potentially serious complications in the nervous system, hear...
Vitamin D helps the body to absorb the calcium that is ingested. The body naturally produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. The risks of skin cancer necessitates the use of sunscreen, which can block the body f...
Recommended vitamins are needed in order to have your body operate at its optimum level. You can obtain these vitamins in recommended dosages by eating a variety of foods, either via the natural food or from commercially-proces...
Known chemically as "ascorbic acid," Vitamin C plays a major role with the formation of collagen. This is a substance that gives structure and strength to the skin and connective tissue throughout the body. Foods rich in Vitami...
If you are deficient in this vitamin, there are several foods you can eat on a regular basis to boost your levels.
In addition, vitamin C may reduce the risk of developing some cancers as well as preventing other medical conditions. Because the human body does not manufacture or store vitamin C, you must consume it regularly in your diet. S...
Vitamin D is probably best known for helping the body absorb and retain calcium. The 2004 Report of the Surgeon General lists vitamin D as one of the basic elements needed for healthy bones. Although few foods are natural sourc...
You need nutrients for energy, and to keep your bones and teeth healthy. Nutrients also support your muscles, tendons and organs, and provide defense against diseases. Eating a diet of nutrient- and vitamin-rich foods will keep...
Pregnant and lactating women are advised to consume slightly more, 2.6 and 2.8 micrograms, respectively.
Most Americans are able to meet thier needs for Vitamin B12 through diet alone, and supplementation is often not neces...
This fat-soluble vitamin is most often found in dark, leafy green vegetables, but it can also be found in other foods. A list of foods high in vitamin K can help with menu planning to ensure adequate dietary intake of this impor
It works by helping to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorous in the bloodstream and helping the body to absorb the calcium. While vitamin D can be found in foods, skin also produces vitamin D when exposed to sunligh...
While many take vitamin K as a supplement, the USDA research showed that it is just as readily available to the body through food sources, which is more beneficial, as foods provide a combination of vitamins and minerals that w...
