The Vitamin Addict

One of the most common vitamins known to people everywhere is Vitamin C. We have all heard of it and how important it is to our bodies but do you really know why? What does Vitamin C have that is so important to us anyway? How can we get the Vitamin C that we need each day to remain healthy and strong?

It is a water-soluble vitamin that can only be received from the foods that we eat. Being water-soluble means that it dissolves in water and your body cannot store this type of vitamin. Neither can it produce vitamin C on its own. If you do not replenish your body with vitamin C daily it has no other way to receive this vitamin.

You may also hear vitamin C being referred to as ascorbic acid. Your body needs vitamin C for normal growth and development among other benefits. Vitamin C helps wounds to heal and is great for strong bones, teeth and cartilage plus it helps to repair tissues in your body. The protein collagen is produced by vitamin C. Collagen is used for improving your skin, healing scar tissue, ligaments and tendons. It also is necessary for healthy blood vessels as well. Read on to find out more about the benefits of Vitamin C to your body.

 Benefits of Vitamin C on the Body

Vitamin C provides the body with many other benefits as well. It is a highly effective antioxidant. An antioxidant is nutrients that are needed to help block the damage that can be caused by free radicals. Free radicals are produced when your body is transforming food into energy. It helps to protect vital molecules which include proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

Antioxidants help prevent disease and infection and help you fight infection and viruses that you d catch. You will have fewer colds and flues and similar conditions when you have the proper amounts of Vitamin C. Foods that contain a high source of vitamin C include fruits and vegetables, all leafy greens and citrus fruits or juices.

You can also receive vitamin C from the following foods:

• Green or red peppers
• Tomatoes
• Turnip greens
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• White potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Cantaloupe
• Cabbage
• Watermelon

There are other sources of vitamin C available as well and you can always use a multivitamin as a supplement. It is very rare to consume too much vitamin C but, if taken in large doses you may experience indigestion or diarrhea. It’s important to be careful not to overdose on any vitamins because even too much of a good thing is dangerous.

Vitamin C Deficiencies  

Deficiencies in vitamin C can lead to many problems. One of the worst diseases caused from vitamin C deficiency is scurvy. However, you don’t hear much about this anymore because over the years people have learned that they need a certain amount of vitamin C to stay healthy. Still, there are other milder conditions that are caused by a vitamin C deficiency. For example, many times people lacking in vitamin C will notice they have dry hair with lots of split ends, rough or dry skin and excessive nose bleeds.

You may also notice that you have frequent bleeding of the gums and your tooth enamel may be weaker than normal. People who suffer from vitamin C deficiencies many notice that they have a hard time fighting off infections or that it takes a long time for wounds to heal.

Anemia, bruising easily and painful swollen joints may also be caused by not receiving enough vitamin C in your diet. It can even contribute to weight gain because having a vitamin C deficiency slows down your metabolism. Therefore, if you are trying to lose weight you may want to make sure you are receiving enough vitamin C every day.

Vitamin B is one that most everyone has heard of but many people are confused by the different types of B vitamins that exist. Vitamin B is one of the more complex vitamins because there are actually eight different ones. Each one has its own unique qualities.

Vitamin B is one of the more common vitamins that almost everyone has heard about at some point in their life. When someone is addressing all of the B vitamins they are referred to as vitamin B complex. When a single vitamin is being addressed it is usually referred to by its specific name, which is listed below:

• Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine)
• Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin)
• Vitamin B₃ (Niacin)
• Vitamin B₅ (Pantothenic acid)
• Vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine)
• Vitamin B₇ (Biotin)
• Vitamin B₉ (Folic acid)
• Vitamin B₁₂ (Cyanocobalamin)

The vitamin B complex is beneficial to the body in several different ways. For instance, they help you to maintain healthy skin and increase muscle tone. They help to increase the rate of your metabolism and improve the functions of both the immune system and the nervous system. Vitamin B complex promotes both cell growth and division which in turn helps to prevent anemia. It can also help fight depression symptoms and stress.

Foods That Provide Vitamin B

There are several popular foods that contain the vitamin B complex which include the following:

• Bananas
• Potatoes
• Turkey
• Tuna
• Liver
• Chilli peppers
• Molasses
• Nutritional yeast

You can even find vitamin B in many of the energy drinks that are sold on the market today. There are many great, easy ways to get the recommended amount of Vitamin B in your body.

Signs of Vitamin B Deficiency

Considering the fact that the vitamin B complex includes eight different ones, it is no wonder that a person can suffer from several different deficiencies if they do not receive the correct amount of this vitamin. The problem you are experiencing will depend on which vitamin B you are lacking. For example, a person who has a vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine) deficiency can suffer from depression, anemia, dermatitis, hypertension and even water retention.

A deficiency of B₁₂ (Cyanocobalamin) can cause problems such as memory loss and severe cases of anemia. Other common problems associated with a vitamin B deficiency include acne, birth defects, impaired growth in children and neurological disorders.

Some of the deficiencies caused by Vitamin B complex are associated directly with diseases. The names of some of these diseases and conditions are listed below:

• Pellagra
• Beriberi
• Wernicke’s
• Korsakoff’s syndrome
• Ariboflavinosis
• Heart failure

Keep in mind also that your body needs to be replenished each day with vitamin B complex because it is a water soluble vitamin. What this means is that it is dispersed throughout your entire body and any excess is eliminated through the urine.
Even though you can buy all eight of the vitamin B complex separately, it is important to remember that each one works together with the other in your body. If you take just one for a long period of time it can cause the other B vitamins to become imbalanced. This is the reason it is usually recommended that you take a multivitamin instead of just one of the B vitamins alone. You should now feel more confident in what Vitamin B does and how it works in your body.

When people think about vitamins that are good for you, they don’t normally put vitamin A at the top of the list. However, it is more important to the body than you may realize. A little bit of Vitamin A goes a long way towards a healthy body and mind. For example, did you know that vitamin A helps to regulate your immune system? This is very important when it comes to your body’s natural ability to fight off infections and diseases.

So why is Vitamin A so important? Vitamin A is classified as a group of compounds that also affect the following functions in the body:

• Vision
• Cell division
• Cell differentiation
• Reproduction
• Bone growth

Different parts of the body have what is called a surface lining that helps to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering into the body. These include the intestinal and urinary tract, the respiratory system, your eyes and even mucous membranes and your skin can be included. Vitamin A helps to keep these linings healthy so they can perform their job better.

Sources That Provide Vitamin A

So where can you get this important Vitamin A? You can receive vitamin A from both animals and plants so you find it in many foods you eat on a daily basis. When you receive this vitamin from animals it is absorbed into the body in the form of retinol. This type of vitamin A is called “performed vitamin A”. Retinol can be absorbed and used easily by the body. Foods that contain retinol are:

• Whole milk
• Liver
• Whole eggs
• Margarine
• Beef
• Cheese

Some foods contain fortified vitamin A that is used to replace the retinol that is lost when fat is removed from foods such as dried nonfat milk or some fortified cereals. Vitamin A that comes from plants is called “provitamin A carotenoid”. These are found in many fruits and vegetables, especially the dark colored ones. Provitamin A carotenoid is found in foods such as the following:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Cantaloupes
• Carrot juice
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Vegetable soup
• Mango
• Oatmeal

This type of vitamin A is not absorbed into the body as easily as the retinol.

Signs of Vitamin A Deficiency

In the United States it is uncommon for people to suffer from a deficiency of vitamin A, but it is possible. People that suffer from night blindness usually have a vitamin A deficiency. When a person has a serious vitamin A deficiency the retina and cornea of the eyes become dry and damaged and can cause blindness.

It also makes it harder for your body to fight off infection which leaves you more susceptible to viruses and diseases. In children, this type of deficiency can cause their bones to develop slowly which contributes to a decrease in their growth rate. These children will usually suffer from infections more often than is normal, including respiratory infections.

Birth defects have also been associated with vitamin A deficiency. Having an excessive amount of this vitamin has also been linked to birth defects. Considering all the important functions that are affected by vitamin A, it is surprising that it doesn’t get more recognition. Once you understand what vitamin A is all about, you will see the importance of getting it regularly in your diet. Then you can begin to live a healthier life full of the things you love and enjoy!