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Vitamin Articles
Human body requires vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. Vitamins are required to lead a healthy life. They are vital for our body. It can be defined as the substance which is required for human body to grow and develop normally. It is required for the prevention of diseases.
Source of Vitamins
Body gets the vitamins from the food we eat. Our body gets many vitamins when we take a balanced diet. Deficiency of vitamins leads the body to get disease.
Classification
Generally vitamins are of twelve types. Vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Vitamin B has its classifications as thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, biotin, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12. We can basically classify vitamins as water soluble vitamin and fat soluble vitamins.
What is a fat soluble vitamin?
Fat soluble vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver except vitamin E which is being circulated through fatty tissues in the body.
Water Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin C and Vitamin B comes under water soluble vitamins. Our body stores vitamins only for a short period of time. After that they will be excreted by the kidneys. Vitamin B-12 is only water soluble vitamin which is stored in the liver. These vitamins cannot be stored in other parts of the body. Balanced diet gives vitamins for the growth of your body.
Are the vitamins essential for the health?
Vitamins are must for the growth of the body and they can be obtained from the food. Our body itself cannot make vitamins and therefore we have to obtain it from a vitamin rich diet.
Will excess vitamins cause any side effects?
Over consumption of fat soluble vitamins will result in side effects as they will be stored in the body itself. For example excess of vitamin A in the body results in weight loss, headache and so on. Excess of water soluble vitamins are not toxic since they are disposed in the urine.
The Role of Vitamin A
Vitamin A or Retinol is the vitamin which is essential for the growth of the skin and hair and makes them healthier. It is a powerful antioxidant agent which plays an effective role in the efficient functioning of immune system of the body.
The source of the vitamin A is obtained from eggs, liver, milk and all dairy products. Beta carotene which is found in orange, green and yellow vegetables and fruits is another source. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to night blindness.