Vitamins

It’s the cold and flu time of year, Or as I like to call it, Vitamin C-son! Vitamins are another one of the 6 classes of nutrients. Vitamins are a very important part of our daily life. The definition of vitamins is a carbon-containing substance needed in small amounts to help promote and regulate chemical reactions and processes in the body. We as humans need thirteen vitamins. Four of the thirteen vitamins are fat-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins can pose a threat when consumed in excess. The four fat-soluble vitamins include, A, D, E, and K. The nine other vitamins are water-soluble. One of the differences between the fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins is that the fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your body while the water-soluble vitamins are not. This would explain why in excess fat-soluble vitamins can pose a threat. The water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the vitamin B complex group. The functions of vitamins include helping chemical reaction, contributing to production of red blood cells and maintenance of the nervous, skeletal, and immune systems, and acting as antioxidants. Now generally speaking you can receive all of these needed vitamins in the foods you eat. If you do not consume a healthier diet this may be more difficult. You may also supplement with extra vitamin supplements, but remember this can pose a threat when it comes to the fat-soluble vitamins. Next week we will cover the very last two of the 6 classes of nutrients, water and minerals.