Introduction:
Vitamins are substances our bodies can’t make. Therefore they need to be obtained through our diet. If we didn’t get vitamins in our diet we would die or be seriously ill. (Precision Nutrition, 2014)
Vitamin supplements are mostly artificial tablets, powders, injections and liquids. They are intended to enhance vitamin intake or supply vitamins to the body that you are unable to ingest through your diet. 54% of women and only 46% of men globally, take vitamins and/or mineral supplements daily. (Precision Nutrition, 2014)
Over 56% of Americans with an annual income of over $90,000 take vitamin supplements. Although 70% of Americans with an income of lower than $24,000 don’t take them. (Gallup Well Being, 2014)
That means that the less wealthy can’t always afford vitamin supplements. But do they need them? Here are all the different types of vitamins (see table below). It could be argued that the general public don’t know the difference between all of them, or even know there were that many.
How does Vitamin C work?
Vitamin C is a vitamin found in sources of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits.
Historically Vitamin C was used for preventing and treating scurvy. Scurvy is rare now a days but sailors, astronauts, pirates and people who spend long periods at sea without fruit and vegetables are more prone to Vitamin C deficiency, which leads to scurvy. (NASA, 2013)
Today people take Vitamin C supplements to prevent the common cold and infections. Although that isn’t always factually true. One scientist from Australia said, “It doesn’t make sense to take Vitamin C tablets 365 days a year to lessen the chance of catching a cold.” (Professor Harri Hemila, 2013)
(US News, 2014)
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• NHS. 2014. Health claims about vitamin D examined. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/06June/Pages/health-claims-about-vitamin-D-examined.aspx. [Accessed 21 May 14].
• NASA. 2013. Keeping Astronauts Healthy in Space. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/travelinginspace/30sept_spacemedicine.html. [Accessed 22 May 14].
Images
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Ascorbic acid is an extremely vital element that is present in many fruits and vegetables, like oranges, lemons, tomatoes, broccoli and etc. But since it can break down easily with the presence of heat, it can be lost during cooking. That is why most foods have added vitamin C. The recommended daily amount of Vitamin C for adults is between 75mg to 90 mg. However, taking too much of Vitamin C can cause harm.
Vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a highly prevalent condition worldwide and presented in approximately 30% to 50% of the general population [7]. High r...
The more the merrier right? Overtime people have continuously believed that vitamin supplements help the human body sustain a healthier body and well-being, however, have failed to realize the harm that vitamin supplements can do to the body; this is indicated by Paul Offit, the author of “The Vitamin Myth.” He states that over time researches and various studies have proved that Linus Pauling, the soul of the vitamin myth, statements of what vitamin supplements could do for the human body and or life. For example, the National Cancer Institute in 1994, researched smokers who were given various supplements over a period of time however those who were given supplements eventually showed signs of a more dangerous health state than those who did
Some people think that the only reason that vitamins exist are to help those people who have diseases and deficiency. Vitamins are especially helpful for these types of people, but this is not the only reason people should take them. Nobody is perfect, and gaps are apparent in everyday diets which makes a vitamin seem like the perfect fix. Vitamins are not prescribed for the most part, although in some cases they are. If someone is pregnant or nursing, suffering from a lack of a certain nutrient dramatically, or if they are a vegetarian, a doctor may recommend taking a supplement to ensure safety. Although these are prescribed, they are not a medicine that will fix something. "Unlike medicines, supplements cannot claim to cure, treat or prevent
One piece of evidence I have comes from a document called, "Understanding the Value of Multivitamin." In this document the author, Komaroff, A.L, says, "... For example, a deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy." In this line Komaroff is stating how Vitamin C can cause scurvy, which is a disease that makes us lose our teeth and so much more. In the same document they then stated, "... Such severe vitamin Deficiency are rarely seen in the developed countries. However, eating foods rich in vitamins still brings benefits… " So even if you wouldn't take multivitamins to get rid of vitamin deficiency diseases you can still take it to rid of other major killers. These major
Vitamins are organic and non-caloric micro-nutrients that are essential to life. They are broken down into two major classifications: Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and Water-soluble vitamins (C, B). Vitamins a...
Vitamin, any of the organic compounds required by the body in small amounts for metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth in children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous-system chemicals, and genetic material. The various vitamins are not chemically related, and most differ in their physiological actions. They generally act as catalysts, combining with proteins to create metabolically active enzymes that in turn produce hundreds of important chemical reactions throughout the body. Without vitamins, many of these reactions would slow down or cease. The intricate ways in which vitamins act on the body, however, are still far from clear.
Dietary supplements are used to add additional nutritional value to the diet. Some common forms of supplements include: vitamins, amino acids, minerals, herbs, and enzymes, and can be found in a multitude of forms such as capsules, liquids, gel caps, powders, and tablets. Dietary supplements are becoming increasingly popular among Americans today. According to the Centers for Disease and Control, “Over half of the adults in the U.S. use at least one type of dietary supplement, the most common being multivitamins.”1 Many use these vitamins because they are believed to present a number of benefits, such as helping or treating diseases, etc. While dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health; Americans should also be cognizant of the health
Imagine that there is a supplement or drug that strengthens your bones, boosts your immune system, prevents auto-immune diseases, aids in weight loss, helps prevent cancer and doesn’t cost you a cent. Research has led many to believe that this supplement does indeed exist, and it’s called vitamin D.
When one hears the three words: vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, they think of one thing-being healthy and noticing what your intake is daily. Nutrition is all about vitamins and nutrients. Firstly, vitamins are an organic compound required by the body in small amounts of metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth of children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous systems chemicals, and genetic material. There are 13 well-identified vitamins. Some examples of the 13 well-identified vitamins are: A, D, E, and K-fat contained foods, B, C-consumed immediately. A well known and commonly used in commercials for orange juice vitamin is vitamin C. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is important in the synthesis and maintenance of connective tissues. The lack of vitamin C will result in a sickness called scurvy. Scurvy harms the gums, mucous membranes, and the skin. Another well-known vitamin and is also used to commercial to give more information about this beverage is the vitamin in milk. The vitamin in milk is vitamin D. If you do not drink milk and obtain this vitamin, your bones and teeth will become soft and weak. Lacking one or more of the 13 well-identified vitamins will cause sickness and weakness to your body. Secondly, nutrients are how the body assimilates certain compounds. Nutrients are classified in 5 major groups: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. One of the five nutrients is carbohydrate. The carbohydrate group principally consists of sugar, starch, dextrin, cellulose, and glycogen. In more basic terms, carbohydrates are sugars needed by human and other living organisms. Some types of foods that contain carbohydrates would be candies, ice cream, fruit juice, soda, chocolate bars etc. Lastly, vitamins are connected to minerals. Minerals are also a very important part of a healthy person. There are 11 major groups of minerals. They are: calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. All these terms look very familiar if one has taken chemistry. These are the elements of our world. One of the more common minerals that most people have heard of is calcium. Calcium also helps with the structure and strength of teeth and bones. Vitamins and minerals work together to help humans maintain a healthy body. For example, vitamin D works with calcium to help for and maintain the strength of teeth and bones.
Vitamins are essential aids in many body processes, converting food the energy, building and maintaining cells, and other functions.
Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid is needed for growth and maintenance of healthy tissues, especially skin, blood vessels, bones, gums, teeth. Vitamin C aids in resistance against infection and healing of wounds. It also helps the body absorb iron from food. Vitamin C can be found in green vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemon. A lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy, iron deficiency and poor wound healing. A healthy diet should include a high amount of vitamin C because the human body cannot produce its own vitamin C.
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins. Without vitamin C, human life would not be on this planet today. It does many positive things in the human body. It increases recovery time from illnesses such as colds. It helps to prevent free radical damage and collagen glycation, which cause the body to age much faster than it usually should. It also helps to prevent major diseases, like scurvy, which results from Vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is necessary for human life.
The human body requires small amounts of nutrients in microgram or milligram quantities in our diet because it cannot synthesize the necessary amounts on its own. These nutrients are considered micronutrients. Micronutrients are a combination of water, vitamins, and minerals. Vitamins are organic compounds that do not provide energy, but are essential to the body in helping “aid in metabolism, as well as the growth, development and maintenance of body tissues” (Byrd-Bredbenner, Moe and Beshgetoor 402). Vitamins are broken down into two groups, water-soluble and fat-soluble. The water-soluble vitamins are the B-vitamins, and vitamin C. The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K. Minerals are needed in even smaller amounts, however these inorganic substances are necessary for “cell metabolism, nerve impulse transmission and growth and development” (Byrd-Bredbenner, Moe and Beshgetoor 485). Minerals can be categorized into major or trace minerals. The major minerals include Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Sulfur. Trace minerals are Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iodine, Selenium, Chromium, Fluoride, Molybdenum and Ultratrace minerals.
Illness is one of the main causes when you don’t have enough vitamins in your system because your immune is weak by not having any vitamin. A weak immune system can make you more susceptible to a common cold or fever. It seems that taking vitamin supplements does not work as well as taking vitamin in by a healthy diet. When eating unhealthy you could get different types of diseases. Having a high blood pressure can cause a higher risk of strokes and heart problems along with diabetes. Over time our population