Vitamins essential to maintaining healthy life
By Donald Molloy
Feature Editor
What do Fred Flintstone and Bugs Bunny have in common? Well, other than
being cartoon characters, they are swallowed every day by millions of
children in the form of a vitamin.
Everyone knows that vitamins are essential to good health, but what are
their purposes?
There are two types of vitamins, water-soluble and fat-soluble. The
water-soluble vitamins break down quickly and are excreted from the body and
need to be replenished daily. The fat-soluble vitamins break down more
slowly.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble. It can be found in eggs, meats, milk, liver and
fish oils. It helps tooth development and keeps skeletal, soft tissue,
mucous membranes and eyes healthy.
Vitamin B1, (Thiamine) is a water-soluble and is found in breads, cereals,
pasta, lean meats, peas and dried beans. Its purpose is to transform
carbohydrates into energy and to help the heart and nerve cells work well
with the brain.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is water-soluble and one of the B-complex vitamins.
It is found in lean meats, dairy products, nuts and leafy green vegetables
and in addition to transforming carbohydrates into energy, it also provides
the making of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12, a water-soluble that helps metabolize nutrients in the body,
and is located in eggs, meats, poultry and milk products.
It helps keep the nervous system in good working order. Folic acid helps
vitamin B12 with the making of red blood cells and is an integral part of
making DNA.
Vitamin C, (Ascorbic acid) is water-soluble and found in citrus fruits,
strawberries, green peppers, turnips, as well as other greens, tomatoes,
cantaloupe and white as well as sweet potatoes. It helps teeth and gums. It
also helps the body retain iron and fight infections.
Vitamin D is fat-soluble and is not found in food. It is produced in the
body after being exposed to the sun. It is nicknamed ³the sunshine vitamin²
and helps the body absorb calcium, keeps teeth and bones strong and keeps
calcium and phosphorous in normal supplies within the body.
Vitamin E, (Tocopherol) is a fat-soluble as well as an antioxidant. It is
located in corn, nuts, seeds, asparagus and leafy green vegetables. Its
purpose is to form red blood cells.
Vitamins are essential to maintaining a good healthy life.
