History of vitamins
Vitamins are micro-nutrients. They were discovered by Eijkman (1897) in Indonesia, Java, while studying a disease called beriberi common among natives whose main diet was rice. He noticed that fowl fed on polished rice, developed beri beri, but not when fed on crudely milled rice.
In 1911 Funk obtained an alcoholic extract of the outer husk of rice which cured beri beri. This was thought to be a vital amine introducing the name vitamine. The "e" was later dropped to read "vitamin".
Vitamins are required by the body for a variety of biological processes. These include growth e.g Vitamin B6; mental alertness e.g Choline, Niacin; resistance to infection e.g. Vitamin C and Vitamin E. They also act as catalysts in the body chemistry as well as precursors to vital body factors. This enables the body to use carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Vitamins in themselves do not have calories and therefore do not give energy to the body. Natural vitamins are found in living things that is plants and animals and are organic food substances. There are many artificially synthesized vitamins
What is a Vitamin Deficiency?
Vitamin Deficiency occurs when your body doesn't have enough of the vitamin that it needs. Some deficiencies can be cured simply by eating foods that contains the vitamin that you need. Other deficiencies lead to diseases and conditions that are more difficult to treat.
What is a Water-soluble Vitamin?
A water-soluble vitamin is a vitamin that dissolves in water. Vitamin C and Vitamin B are water soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body for long periods of time. Water-soluble vitamins travel through your body and the whatever your body doesn't need, comes out in your urine. These kinds of vitamins need to be replaced daily.
What is a Fat-soluble Vitamin?
A fat-soluble vitamin is a vitamin that can be stored in the liver and fat tissues of your body until your body needs them. Vitamins A,
E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in your body for up to six months.
Should you take Vitamin Supplements?
It is best to get your vitamins through the food you eat. However, if you believe you are not getting the vitamins you need, consider taking a vitamin. Before you start taking vitamins, consult with your doctor. Sometimes you are consuming the vitamins that you need but your body is unable to absorb them. If this is the case, your doctor will help you determine why you are not absorbing your vitamins.
There are a lot of people who do not have enough natural vitamin sources in their diet vitamin and therefore suffer from a deficiency of one or more vitamins . Obviously, it is possible to buy vitamin supplements to help overcome any deficiencies but for the majority of people it should be possible for them to obtain the majority of their recommended daily allowance of vitamins from natural vitamin sources. The key to gaining the correct amount of vitamins from natural vitamin sources is to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
There are certain diets, such as vegetarian, that provide a limited number of natural vitamin supplements and therefore a supplement may be necessary. Also, the intake required of these natural vitamin sources at certain periods may need to be increased and a supplement may be the best option. It is important to be aware of each of the different types of vitamins and their best natural vitamin sources so that a person can incorporate as many of these as possible into their regular diet. Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and need to be replenished on a daily basis so it is natural vitamin sources for these vitamins that are the most essential to know.
Your health and nutrition center - Vitamins Diary
Here are a lot of people who do not have enough natural vitamin sources in their diet and therefore suffer from a deficiency of one or more vitamins. Obviously, it is possible to buy vitamin supplements to help overcome any deficiencies but for the majority of people it should be possible for them to obtain the majority of their recommended daily allowance of vitamins from natural vitamin sources. The key to gaining the correct amount of vitamins from natural vitamin sources is to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
There are certain diets, such as vegetarian, that provide a limited number of natural vitamin supplements and therefore a supplement may be necessary. Also, the intake required of these natural vitamin sources at certain periods may need to be increased and a supplement may be the best option. It is important to be aware of each of the different types of vitamins and their best natural vitamin sources so that a person can incorporate as many of these as possible into their regular diet. Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and need to be replenished on a daily basis so it is natural vitamin sources for these vitamins that are the most essential to know.
Natural Vitamins or Synthetic?
You will find that vitamin supplements are divided into two groups: synthetic and natural. The synthetic vitamins are produced in laboratories from isolated chemicals and mirror their counterparts found in nature.
Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. Chemically, there may be no difference, but synthetic vitamins contain only the isolated vitamin while natural supplements may contain other synergistic nutrients not yet discovered.
Generally, it is believed that synthetic and natural vitamins perform the same, but two noted exceptions are vitamins D and E. The synthetic forms are different than their natural counterparts. Most health care professionals recommend only the natural forms of these two vitamins. Natural vitamin D is identified as Vitamin D-3 and Natural Vitamin E is identified as d-alpha (not dl-alpha) tocopherol.
Synthetic supplements may also contain coal tars, artificial coloring, preservatives, sugars, and starch and other harmful additives. You should also be aware that a supplement may be labeled "natural" and still have these harmful additives. Read labels carefully.
Vitamins found in nature do not exist in free form. They are protein-bonded. Nutritional studies have revealed that protein-bonded vitamins, such as found in whole food supplements, are best absorbed, utilized and retained in body tissues better than vitamins that are not protein-bonded. Vitamins and minerals found in food are bonded to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and bioflavonoids. Chemically derived vitamins are not protein-bonded.

Vitamins Are Very Important
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What are Vitamins?
Vitamins are organic substances necessary for life. Vitamins are essential to the normal functioning of our bodies,and except for a few exceptions, cannot be made by our bodies.Vitamins are necessary for growth and vitality. They are found in all natural foods.
We must obtain vitamins from foods or dietary supplements. It is impossible to sustain life without all the essential vitamins.
What Vitamins are Not?
Vitamins are NOT replacements for food. By themselves, they have no calories.
Vitamins are not substitutes for protein , fats, minerals, carbohydrates or other nutrients.
You cannot stop eating, take vitamins and expect to be healthy.
What do Vitamins do?
Vitamins have hundreds of different functions.
Some examples of what vitamins do:
energize our metabolism
regulate our metabolism
help form blood clots when we bleed
enable cell growth
help us see in color instead of black and white