Vitamins are the important nutrients of our body. They are important for the normal growth and cell functions. Though these are needed in very small quantity, very often there is vitamin deficiency found in people. This is because these days we resort to a lot of canned and processed food, and so the natural nutrients and vitamins are lost.
Vitamins are of two types, fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Supplements like A, D, E, and K are stored in the fatty tissues and also in liver, and are called as the fat-soluble vitamins. B and C are the water-soluble vitamins. These are used immediately and are not stored in the body.
Some of the chief sources of vitamins are as follows-
1. Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is found ample in carrots, spinach, sweet potato, beef, chicken, turkey and pork. Extremely good for vision, deficiency in vitamin A, can cause Night blindness. Besides, vitamin A is known to have the best anti aging property. It keeps your skin young, glowing, slows the process of aging by keeping wrinkles away.
2. Vitamin B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12)The vitamin B group is important for the body metabolism. It helps converting protein, fats, and carbohydrates into energy. It is also a muscle toner, and helps weight loss and reduces appetite. Vitamin B is good for the nervous system, makes one alert, and manages fatigue. In deficiency of vitamin B, one can have hair loss, dryness and parched lips, digestive disturbances and weakness. Salmon, Tuna, turkey, liver of chicken, peanuts, beans, yogurt, sweet potatoes and almonds are good natural source of vitamin B.
3. Vitamin C supplements
Vitamin C supplements are best resourced from natural juice and citrus fruits oranges, and lemon, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, sweet potato, and broccoli. Vitamin C supplements play a vital role in repair of tissues, healing, and growth of bones. It is also a good antioxidant and keeps the body away from disease causing free radicals. Some of the common Vitamin C deficiency symptoms are, gingivitis and bleeding of gums), easy bruising, nose bleed or epistaxis and easy loosing of teeth enamel and caries.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is found in milk, and milk products like butter, and yogurt, in salmon, cod liver oil,, tuna, and in egg yolk. Vitamin D is needed for the proper development of bones and teeth. It is often given in cases of osteoporosis. Vitamin D helps curtailing the metastasis of cancer cells. Vitamin D is best resourced naturally from the early morning sunlight.
5. Vitamin E supplements
Vitamin E is a life saver. It is an antioxidant which can prevent and reduce the risk of cancer. Vitamin E helps blood from clotting maintaining the liquid form. Foods that contain Vitamin E supplements are pistachio, almonds, hazel nuts, soybeans, and shrimp. A deficiency in Vitamin E supplements causes dry skin reduced sexual desire and even degeneration of the muscle.
6. Vitamin K
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, celery, turnip greens, asparagus, cabbage, and broccoli are rich sources of it. it is important for proper clotting function and preventing of bleeding and hemorrhage. It is also needed for maintaining kidney function and metabolism. Vitamin K helps prevent menorrhagia (excessive bleeding during menses), easy bruising and bleeding gums.
By Abhinav S Sidana
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5734628