[Bumble-bee]

according to the research, Americans spend more than $200,000 million on vitamins and all kinds of vitamin supplies each year. that's hellova lot!
so i thought how much do we actually know about vitamins? and their benefits?

some facts here

Here's when major vitamins were discovered and their food sources

Year of discovery - Vitamin - Food source

1913 - Vitamin A (Retinol) - Cod liver oil, carrots

1910 - Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) - Rice bran

1920 - Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)- Citrus, most fresh foods

1920 - Vitamin D (Calciferol) - Cod liver oil

1920 - Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) - Meat, eggs

1922 - Vitamin E (Tocopherol) - Wheat germ oil, unrefined vegetable oils

1926 - Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins) - Liver, eggs, animal products

1929 - Vitamin K (Phylloquinone) - Leafy green vegetables

1931 - Vitamin B5(Pantothenic acid)- Meats, whole grains,in many foods

1931 - Vitamin B7 (Biotin) - Meats, dairy products, eggs

1934 - Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - Meat, dairy products

1936 - Vitamin B3 (Niacin) - Meat, eggs, grains

1941 - Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) - Leafy green vegetables

(via wiki)

what are vitamins and their benefits for health?

Vitamin A is needed for growth and development and immunity, and healthy vision, hair, skin, nails, bones and teeth.

Vitamin C - An antioxidant helping protect against free radicals, fight infection, boost iron absorption, and maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and gums.

Vitamin B1 along with other B vitamins releases the energy we get from food. It also benefitts to healthy nerve and muscle function.

Vitamin B6 helps maintain a healthy nervous system and produce mood-regulating serotonin. it also participates in haemoglobin formation in red blood cells and antibodies formation to fight infection.

Folate (or folic acid) is a type of B vitamin needed to form new cells. It reduces the risk of spina bifida during pregnancy and works with vitamin B12 to help keep the circulation healthy.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and important for the protection of cell membranes as well as maintaining healthy skin, immunity, nerves, muscles and red blood cells.

Vitamin K is used to make blood clot to heal wounds. Also helps to build and maintain strong bones.

[Bumble-bee]

and here's something about main minerals we know

Calcium is an essential nutrient needed to help muscles contract, blood to clot and nerves to carry messages. It also helps build bones and teeth and keep them strong, as well as make your nails and hair strong and shiny.

Iron is essential for haemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all the cells of the body. Iron is also important for immunity. If your body lacks iron you can develop iron-deficiency anaemia with symptoms including tiredness, pallor, irritability and reduced resistance to infection. Women, in particular need to ensure enough iron in their diet as they lose iron with period evey month

Iodine produces thyroid hormones, which regulate the metabolic rate and vital bodily functions such as body temperature, growth and development in children, blood cell manufacture and nerve and muscle function.

Manganese is used in such bodily functions, as development of healthy bones, the way the body processes carbohydrates, and protective antioxidant activity in the body.

Phosphorus together with with calcium and magnesium builds and maintains strong bones and teeth. It also plays a key role in releasing energy from food so we have energy for everyday activities.

Potassium helps regulate our blood pressure and nerve muscle functions.

Zinc helps keep the skin healthy, heal wounds, regulate the sense of taste and strengthen immune system strength. It is particularly important during pregnancy and for infant development.

Magnesium togther with calcium helps maintain healthy bones, release energy from food and to absorb nutrients, as well as regulate mood, nerve and muscle function. It's also crutially important to maintain a healthy heart.


PS hope it's useful

[Butterfly]

i didn't know many things. Thanx for sharing

[Mary]

well meat is the vitamin-richest food, so think it over, vegans

[Amelia]

I've heard recently that some vitamin pills are harmful for our health, but I usually take them twice a year. What do you think of it?

[sins]

Breakfast cereals advertise that they're packed with vitamins and minerals. Sports drinks claim they can rev up your flagging energy with a jolt of vitamins or minerals (sorry, but even powerful vitamins and minerals can't act that fast!). You know vitamins and minerals are good for you. But which ones does your body really need? And is it possible to get too much of a good thing?

What Are Vitamins and Minerals?
Vitamins and minerals make people's bodies work properly. Although you get vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat every day, some foods have more vitamins and minerals than others.

Vitamins fall into two categories: fat soluble and water soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E, and K — dissolve in fat and can be stored in your body. The water-soluble vitamins — C and the B-complex vitamins (such as vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, and folate) — need to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them. Because of this, your body can't store these vitamins. Any vitamin C or B that your body doesn't use as it passes through your system is lost (mostly when you pee). So you need a fresh supply of these vitamins every day.

Whereas vitamins are organic substances (made by plants or animals), minerals are inorganic elements that come from the soil and water and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Your body needs larger amounts of some minerals, such as calcium, to grow and stay healthy. Other minerals like chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc are called trace minerals because you only need very small amounts of them each day.

[danielalvis]

Vitamins are usually stored within your body fat, but some are also stored within the bloodstream.Most of the vitamins works as precursors for many enzymes cofactor bio-molecules which acts as catalysts and substrates in metabolism processing in the body.

[Miss Provocateur]

The only thing I know is that vitamins are useful for us)))

[Alley James]

these are great i mean most of the time i was looking on vitamins and their benefit but shoty and easy to remember. here it is present thanks.

[lav.katherine]

these are great i mean most of the time i was looking on vitamins and their benefit but short and easy to remember. here it is present thanks.
Vitamin are the basic need for every human. A little deficiency can be easily fulfill by taking vitamins or fresh vegetable, meat egg and proper diet.