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In your search to get healthier in 2012, it's worth doing your homework in the area of natural
health. Natural nutrition has been proven to help you build better health - and without side effects.
In fact, you get all kinds of side benefits from taking a vitamin such as a high quality Vitamin D3
supplement. You may target taking it for bone health, or cancer, or your blood pressure, or your
immune system - and you are going to get all these extra benefits. You are the one that has to be
in charge of your own good health. You doctor has hundreds (if not more) patients, with the
primary purpose of treating illness and disease. It is up to each of us as individuals to build our
own better health.
http://antiagingbydesign.com/cheapest-supplements
==== ====
Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for normal metabolic functions. These
functions include using proteins to repair injured tissue and converting fats and carbohydrates into
energy. They do not supply the body with either energy or calories directly. Because vitamins
(with the exception of Vitamin D) can not be synthesized by our body, they must be consumed
through diet to prevent vitamin deficiency disorders.
There are a total of 13 vitamins, which are divided into two categories: fat-soluble and water-
soluble. Water-soluble vitamins, which include Vitamin C and B-complex group, can not be stored
in the body. They constantly need to be replenished since they are quickly eliminated through
urine. Fat-soluble, on the other hand, can be stored temporarily in the liver and fatty tissues.
History of Vitamins
Long before discovery of vitamins, many cultures were aware that certain foods had great health
benefits on our body. During the times of the ancient Egyptians, they would feed their patients liver
to cure night blindness. Recent evidence illustrates that night blindness is caused by Vitamin A
deficiency.
From the 18th century, many doctors and scientists made profound discoveries on the nature and
benefit of vitamins.
In 1747, Scottish naval surgeon Dr. James Lind discovered that a nutrient (now known as Vitamin
C) found in citrus foods, helped prevent scurvy
In 1905, Dr. William Fletcher discovered that if you removed certain nutrients (now known as
vitamins) from food, disease would occur. He made this observation while researching the causes
of beriberi in Southeast Asia. Dr. Fletcher concluded that the husk of unpolished rice, contained
"special factors" that prevented beriberi
In 1912, Polish scientist Casimir Funk, named the nutritional parts of our food, a "vitamine",
"vita" meaning life, " amine " a molecule found in thiamine He later concluded that if we were
deficient in certain vitamins, associated diseases could occur.
Functions
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps us see in the dark. It is known as retinol because it
produces pigments found in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A helps promote the health and growth
of all cells and tissues found in our body. It assists in the formation and maintenance of healthy
teeth, skin, tissues, and mucous membranes.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in certain foods and can be produced by our body
after exposure to UV rays from sunlight. This vitamin aids in the absorption of calcium and
phosphorus and helps deposit these minerals in teeth and bones. By promoting calcium
absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Studies suggest that vitamin D
also helps maintain a healthy immune system and helps regulate cell growth and differentiation.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant that protects cellular tissues from the
damaging effects of free-radicals. Free radicals are potentially harmful by-products of energy
metabolism, which could contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Research has shown that Vitamin E may help prevent specific cancers such as colon, breast, and
prostate.
In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that Vitamin E boosts the immune system,
improves brain function, and helps in the formation of red blood cells. It has been observed that
Vitamin E helps reduce the risk of developing various vision disorders, such as cataracts or
macular degeneration.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is commonly known as the "clotting" vitamin. This vitamin's
primary responsibility is to regulate normal blood clotting (through the formation of prothrombin).
Blood clotting occurs instantaneously when there is an injury or tear to any blood vessel. It
regulates this process from helping the body transport calcium. Vitamin K participates in the
synthesis of several proteins that are necessary for the functions such as coagulation and
anticoagulation. Vitamin K, by preventing the hardening of arteries, can reduce occurrence of
heart disease and heart failure.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that affects the body in many different ways. It is required for
the synthesis of collagen, an important protein used to create blood vessels, scar tissue, skin,
tendons, and ligaments. Vitamin C is necessary for the repair and maintenance of these parts and
helps heal wounds. Vitamin C is actively involved in the formation of norepiephrine, a
neurotransmitter that is critical in brain function.
Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, in small amounts in can combat the damage created by free
radicals, which are negative by-products of metabolic activity. The accumulation of these free
radicals has been associated to the aging process. Studies over time have shown that free
radicals contribute to the development of ailments such as heart disease, macular degeneration,
and cancer.
Thiamin, a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, and helps the body to create energy by breaking
down carbohydrates and fats. Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 is essential for the normal
growth and development, it helps to main proper functioning of the heart, nervous, and digestive
systems. Vitamin B1 helps maintain proper functioning digestive, nervous, cardiovascular
systems. It can be stored in muscle tissue temporarily; depletion can occur as quickly as within 14
days.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water soluble vitamin that helps the body produce energy through the
metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It also helps convert tryptophan (an essential amino acid)
into niacin (another B vitamin) and activates vitamin B6. Riboflavin also aids the body's
antioxidant system to protect against free-radical damage. It is vital for the body's various systems
such as nervous, reproductive, and immune system.
Niacin is a water-soluble, B-complex vitamin that plays an important role in energy metabolism, by
converting carbohydrates and fats. It also helps the body to remove harmful toxins, to produce
steroid hormones, and to repair DNA. Vitamin B3 plays an important role in our digestive tract by
maintaining smooth muscle tone. Studies have shown that niacin is effective at reducing
cholesterol-levels and improving cardiovascular circulation.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. It, like other members of the
B-complex family, helps metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce and release
energy. It is common known as the "anti-stress vitamin", by supporting the adrenal gland in the
release a stress hormone, cortisol.
Pantothenic acid, helps the adrenal gland produce other important hormones, which aid the
body to fight allergies and regulate metabolism. It is, also, very important in stimulating the
immune system to produce more antibodies.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is a water-soluble that helps produce proteins, which then create cell
bodies. It helps convert tryptophan (an essential amino acid) into Niacin (Vitamin B3) and
Serotonin, a biological neurotransmitter. Vitamin B6 helps the immune system by increasing WBC
production to fight infection. The body needs Vitamin B6, to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, a
major component of red blood cells, bind to oxygen carrying it to all body tissues. It also increases
the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin. Thus, vitamin B6 deficiency can result in a form of
anemia. It also helps maintain blood glucose levels within normal range. When your glucose level
is low, your body requires vitamin B6 to convert stored carbohydrates into glucose to maintain
normal blood sugar levels. Recent studies have shown that vitamin B6 decreases homocysteine
levels, which has been to heart disease.
Folate is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in DNA and RNA production, which
produce new cell bodies. Folate is required for DNA replication and can prevent change in DNA
that may lead to cancer.. It is actively involved in rapid cell division and growth, during times of
infancy and pregnancy. With the aid of vitamin B12, folate forms hemoglobin, found in red blood
cells allowing effective oxygen transportation to surrounding body tissues. Folate plays a role in
reducing homocysteine levels in blood.
Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is important in the production of red blood cells and
healthy nerve cells. It is required in DNA and RNA replication. Vitamin B12, with the help of
vitamin B6 and folate, control the body's homocysteine levels. Excess amounts of homocysteine
are associated with increased risks of heart disease and stroke. Similar to other water-soluble
vitamins, vitamin B12 plays an important role in cell division and growth. It also increases our
energy levels by metabolizing fats and carbohydrates.
Vitamin B12 enters the body by binding to protein found in food. During digestion, hydrochloric
acid releases vitamin B12 from the protein. After being released, vitamin B12 combines with a
substance called instrinsic factor(IF). This complex is now capable of being absorbed through the
gastrointestinal tract.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, generally classified as a B-complex vitamin. Like other B
vitamins, it helps body cells to produce energy. It helps metabolize fats, proteins (amino acids)
and carbohydrates in food. It is important in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, maintains a
steady blood sugar levels, and strengthen hair and nails. It plays a role in the citric acid cycle, a
process where biochemical energy in created during aerobic respiration. It also plays a role in the
transfer of carbon dioxide found in the body. Preliminary studies show that biotin may help
improve sugar control in those with diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes.
Vilash Reddy is president of Doc1Vitamins.com. This comprehensive nutritional website features
physician developed, highly effective vitamins and nutritional supplements. It also contains a
unique , frequently updated nutritional blog
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vilash_Reddy
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In your search to get healthier in 2012, it's worth doing your homework in the area of natural
health. Natural nutrition has been proven to help you build better health - and without side effects.
In fact, you get all kinds of side benefits from taking a vitamin such as a high quality Vitamin D3
supplement. You may target taking it for bone health, or cancer, or your blood pressure, or your
immune system - and you are going to get all these extra benefits. You are the one that has to be
in charge of your own good health. You doctor has hundreds (if not more) patients, with the
primary purpose of treating illness and disease. It is up to each of us as individuals to build our
own better health.
http://antiagingbydesign.com/cheapest-supplements
==== ====