Importance And Role of Vitamins

Mehul Banker April 12, 2009

A polish researcher by the name of Dr Cacimir Funk proposed the term ‘Vitamine’ meaning a vital amine to designate a new food substance which cured beriberi. But later finally the alphabet “e” was dropped and the word “Vitamin’ met with popular favor.

The potent organic compounds which are found in small concentrations in foods are known as vitamins. They are important and vital to the functioning of various organs in the body. Absence of vitamins or their deficiency or improper absorption results in specific deficiency disease. All the possible vitamins are essential for the growth and development of human body. They are found in minute quantities in organic foods in their natural state. These foods provide us with all the essential vitamins and dietary supplements.

There are different kinds of vitamins and they differ from each other in their chemical structure, physiological functions and in their distribution in the food. There are two varieties of vitamins namely fat soluble and water soluble. They are not normally destroyed by ordinary cooking methods and are stored in the body to some extent normally in the liver. Their measurement is done in international units.

Vitamins cannot be stored permanently in the body and hence they have to be taken daily in foods. Even extra vitamins taken do not have any benefit and are eliminated as waste. They are measured in milligrams or micrograms whichever is appropriate. Drugs are proved to be toxic and have many side-effects while vitamins are non-toxic and safe. The various types of vitamins are illustrated below:

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential for optimum growth and vitality. It increases resistance against respiratory and other infections and works mainly on the eyes, lungs, stomach and intestines. It prevents diseases of the eye and plays a vital role in nourishing hair and skin. The main sources of Vitamin A are whole milk, curds, fish liver oil, pure ghee, cheese, cream, butter, green leafy vegetables and other dry fruits such as almonds.

B complex vitamins: There are different varieties of vitamins in the B group the more important among them are:

Thiamine which is very important in the normal functioning of the nervous system, the regulation of carbohydrates and good digestion. Whole grains, nuts, pulses, peas, milk, eggs, bananas are the main sources of Thiamine.

Riboflavin which is necessary for the growth and general health and also for healthy eyes, skin, nails and hair. Main sources of riboflavin are almonds, sunflower seeds citrus fruits tomato and green leafy vegetables.

Niacin which is essential for proper circulation, healthy functioning of the nervous system and proper protein and carbohydrates metabolism. It is found in liver, fish, poultry, peanut, whole wheat, tomato, dates and figs.

Pyridoxine which helps in proper absorption of fats and proteins protects against degenerative diseases and prevents skin and nervous disorders. The main sources of pyridoxine are wheat bran, pulses, cereals, walnuts, milk, liver and fresh vegetables.

Folic acid which is essential for the formation of red blood cells and improves hemoglobin. Its main sources are spinach, lettuce, breweries, mushrooms, yeast, liver and peanuts.

Panthothenic acid or vitamin B5 helps in cell building and development and growth of central nervous system. The main sources are whole grain, bread and cereals, gram, vegetables, peas, beans and peanut.

Vitamin C: Also known as ascorbic acid this vitamin is necessary for the maintenance and normal growth of all the tissues inside the body especially those of bones, teeth, joints and gums. It is a natural antibiotic and protects from infections. It also helps in decreasing blood cholesterol. It prevents infections, colds neutralizes various toxins in the system, increases sexual vitality and speeds up healing processes in virtually all cases of health. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, grean leafy vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes and green and sprouted Bengal gram.

Vitamin D: This vitamin is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and for proper bone and teeth formation. It assists in the assimilation of phosphorous, calcium and other minerals from the digestive tract. The main sources of this vitamin are raysofsun, fish, milk and eggs. This vitamin is necessary in the treatment of constipation, nervousness and other muscular disorders.

Vitamin E: This vitamin is essential for fertility, physical stamina and normal reproductory functions. It is essential for the prevention of asthma, heart diseases, arthritis and many other conditions. It is available in milk, grain, cereals, eggs, whole sprouted seeds and nuts. This vitamin has proved to be beneficial in the treatment of various forms of paralysis, various heart diseases and diseases of the muscles.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is necessary to prevent bleeding from any part of the body, clothing of blood and normalize the liver functions. It reduces excessive menstrual flow in women during periods. Its deficiency can lead to reduced vitality, premature ageing and insufficient bile salts in the intestines. The main sources of this vitamin are cow’s milk, yolk, eggs, green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, cabbage and tomato.

Thus we can conclude that vitamins taken in our daily food improve health, vigour and stamina naturally without the side-effects of medicines.

Tags: Asthma , Arthritis , Cold , Vitamins , Water