There are thirteen vitamins that your body needs. A, C, D, E, K and eight different B-vitamins.
here's a rundown of what they are and what they do!!
Vitamin A:
- (Beta Carotene) promotes growth of body tissues. Good for healthy hair and maintaining smooth skin. promotes eyesight health. Aids in bone and teeth formation
Vitamin B:
- B1 (Thiamin): Keeps the nervous system healthy and promotes normal growth of body tissues. Aids in digestion of carbohydrates.
- B2 (Riboflavin):Maintains good vision and healhy skin hair and nails. assists in formation of antibodies and red blood cells. aids in carbohydrate fat and protein metabolism.
- B3 (Niacin): Reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Maintains healthy skin, tounge and digestive system. Improves blood circulation and increases energy.
- B5 (pantothenic acid): Fortifies white blood cells and helps the body's resitance to stress.
- B6 (Pyridoxine): Plays a role in preventing heart disease . Aids in the production and breakdown of amino acids. Supports the central nervous system.
- B12 (cyanocobalamin): prevents aneamia by regenerting red blood cells. Need to be present for the formation of new cells to occur. May help in the prevention of diseases such as Alzheimers. Aids in matabolism of carbohydrates fats and protein.
- Folic Acid: Folic acid (folinic acid, folacin, pteroylglutamic acid) is essential for the synthesis of adenine and thymine, two of the four nucleic acids that make up our genes, DNA and chromosomes. It is also required for the proper metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine that is found primarily in animal proteins. A folic acid deficiency has been clearly linked to an elevated level of homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid. High homocysteine levels, in turn, have been linked to cardiovascular disease and a host of other undesirable conditions.
- Also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet. Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone.
Vitamin D:
- Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is found in food and can also be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunshine is a significant source of vitamin D because UV rays from sunlight trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
- Season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, and sunscreen affect UV ray exposure and vitamin D synthesis. For example, sunlight exposure from November through February is insufficient to produce significant vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
- Complete cloud cover halves the energy of UV rays, and shade reduces it by 60%. Industrial pollution, which increases shade, also decreases sun exposure and may contribute to the development of rickets in individuals with insufficient dietary intake of vitamin D.
Vitamin E:
- Vitamin E is the term used for a group of fat-soluble antioxidants, which act in the body to protect against cell damage. Vitamin E exists in eight different forms. Each form has its own biological activity, which is the measure of potency in the body. Alpha-tocopherol is the name of the most active form of vitamin E in humans. It is also a powerful biological antioxidant. Vitamin E is also thought to play a role in maintaining the body's immune system and other body processes.
Vitamin K:
Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it blood would not clot. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly.
- Vitamin K is found in cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, cereals, soybeans, and other vegetables. Vitamin K is also made by the bacteria that line the gastrointestinal tract.
sources:
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/folate.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/vitamin?cat=health
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp
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