Vitamin K is comprised of two different compounds in the body. K1 is responsible primarily for the coagulation of the blood while K2 is responsible for calcium metabolism within the body and cardiovascular health. K2 was only recently identified...
Vitamin K is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins, the others being vitamins A, D and E. There are five forms of the vitamin, with the two naturally occurring forms being K-1, also known as phylloquinone, and K-2, also known as menaquinone. It was...
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is part of the B-complex of vitamins. Vitamin B6 provides the body with a variety of benefits and is responsible for several functions within the human body. All B vitamins are considered water soluble, which...
Vitamin B8 is also known as biotin or as vitamin H. Like the other B-complex vitamins, B8 helps the body convert food to energy. Researchers link B8, specifically, to healthy pregnancies and to healthy skin, nails and hair. When combined with the...
The B complex vitamins are essential for maintaining many body functions and can contribute to healthy hair, nails and mucous membranes. These vitamins can be found in a number of foods in the meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable and grain groups....
A raw food diet includes foods that are uncooked and unprocessed, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouted legumes and grains. Vitamins are organic chemicals found in plant-based foods. Raw foods are a good source for most vitamins,...
While your body needs the water-soluble vitamins in certain foods, it also needs additional types of dietary vitamins and other nutrients. You obtain fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and calorie-producing protein, carbohydrates and fats from food...
Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, helps in preventing the common cold, according to MayoClinic.com. It aids in the absorption of dietary iron supplements, treating scurvy and decreasing the risk of urinary infections. Sources of vitamin C include...
Vitamin K is a vitamin important in the process of blood clotting. Without the blood's ability to clot, wounds would continue to bleed. Vitamin K performs this vital function by providing the liver with the ability to produce components in the...
Vitamins are essential organic compounds which are involved in all of your body's metabolic processes. With the exception of A and E, most vitamins cannot be stored by the body so you should eat appropriate source foods regularly. A well-balanced...
Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is one of the eight B vitamins that help the body convert carbohydrates to glucose, which it burns to produce energy. The B vitamins also aid the body in metabolizing fat and protein, and producing red blood cells....
B vitamins play an essential role in development, growth and enzyme regulation in the body. According to the National Institutes on Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B-6 helps the body produce hemoglobin, the substance in red blood...
Niacin, which is also known as vitamin B3, is essential for the body to turn proteins, fats and carbohydrates from foods into energy it can use. Niacin also plays a role in repairing the body's DNA. People can get niacin either from eating foods...
Vitamin D is commonly referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" because it's the only vitamin that can be made by the human body from sun exposure. It plays a very important role in health. The active form of vitamin D is known as vitamin D3 or...
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient that acts as an antioxidant, protecting your body's cells from damage by free radicals. It also boosts your immune system and help fight off viruses and bacteria. It keeps your blood vessels open to allow blood...
Thiamine, which is also known as thiamin or vitamin B1, helps your body turn the carbohydrates that you eat into energy it can use for many functions, including keeping your nervous system, muscles and heart working well. A thiamine deficiency...
The human body requires vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, to process fats, proteins and carbohydrates, to manufacture red blood cells, and to synthesize cholesterol. Vitamin B5 is found in a wide variety of foods, from meats and dairy...
Vitamin B12 is necessary in the body for the health of red blood cells, nerve cells and to produce the genetic material of DNA. According to the World's Healthiest Foods encyclopedia, sources of B12 are limited to animal sources. While there are...
The body requires vitamin B1, a water-soluble vitamin also known as thiamin, for producing adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, a substance that every cell of the body uses for energy. Vitamin B1 is also necessary for proper functioning of the nervous...
When you think of vitamin A, you probably think of it as the vitamin that helps you see in the dark, but it is also needed to maintain healthy bones, teeth, mucous membranes, skin and immune system. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists...
Vitamin E is a micro-nutrient (needed in very small quantities) that comes in eight forms, characterized by level of biological activity. Alpha-tocopherol is the most active and only form recognized to meet human requirements. Vitamin E is...
One of the most well-known functions of vitamin C is preventing scurvy, but it has many vital roles in the body. The vitamin is essential for growth and repair of tissue, bone, cartilage and teeth, and it is also an antioxidant that can eradicate...
Vitamin K1, which is also known as phylloquinone, is the major dietary source of vitamin K, which your body needs to clot blood properly and maintain strong bones. The recommended daily requirement for vitamin K1 is 90 micrograms for adults....
Vitamin B17--which is also commonly known as laetrile--is primarily found in foods containing seeds. The compound consists mainly of sugar, hydrogen cyanide and acetone. Some believe B17 to be an effective cancer-treatment alternative but...
According to Harvard School of Public Health, laboratory studies have shown that vitamin D is vital in controlling infections and can reduce the growth of cancerous cells. Vitamin D aids your body in the absorption of phosphorus and calcium, which...
Both vitamin E and selenium are found in various plant-based foods, but selenium is also contained in fish, meats, eggs and poultry. Selenium and vitamin E are essential nutrients to your health and have antioxidant actions. If you are concerned...
Niacin, which is also called Vitamin B3, that can be found in many foods and supplements. Niacin helps synthesize cholesterol and fatty acids in the body and create red blood cells. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the daily...
Vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin also known as niacin, helps in the production of various hormones, improves blood circulation and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Like all the B vitamins, niacin also aids in the conversion of...
Vitamin D is known as "the sunshine vitamin" because it is manufactured by the body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. There are only a few good food sources. These include seafood, which naturally contains vitamin D, and dairy products,...
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for the maintenance of organ systems, including kidney function and bone formation. Try these tips for buying foods rich in vitamin D in this healthy shopping video.
What foods can I eat for a vegan diet? Learn how to adjust your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this video on grocery shopping.
Natural sweeteners can be a good source of vitamins and minerals if you're looking to avoid processed sugars. Learn how to pick a sweet and healthy alternative in this shopping video.