Is It Necessary to Take Vitamin Supplements?

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Recommended: Biochemical importance of vitamins in nutrition

Introduction:

In M2 we have been set the question ‘What are vitamins – and who needs them’? Vitamins are essential substances that cannot be manufactured by the body. We need small amounts of vitamins for growth and development. Without vitamins the body cannot survive.

Plenty of foods naturally contain vitamins. Some popular foods, such ass breakfast cereals, are protected with vitamins and minerals. But there are some people who are very particular and do not like to eat a lot of foods. Those people do not gain all the vitamins they need therefore they wont be healthy. Also, young baby’s can only eat certain amounts of food, this means that they are not receiving all the vitamins either, and they will need to take supplements to gain the necessary vitamins to keep them healthy.

Throughout this one world essay I will find out whether it is necessary to take vitamin supplements. The supplement I will be researching is Vitamin C.

How does it work?

Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients, experts say; “It may not be the cure for the common cold, though it's thought to help prevent more serious complications” (Kathleen M. Zelman, 2010).

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that your body doesn’t store it. We have to get what we need from food.

You need vitamin C for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It helps the body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is needed for healing wounds, and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth.

It’s rare to be seriously deficient in vitamin C, although evidence suggests that many people may have low levels of vitamin C. Smoking cigare...

... middle of paper ...

...http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/vitamins.htm. [Accessed 23 May 2014].

Vitamin C Benefits, Sources, Supplements, & More. 2014. Vitamin C Benefits, Sources, Supplements, & More. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c. [Accessed 23 May 2014].

Steven D.. 2014. University of Maryland medical centre. [ONLINE] Available at: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid. [Accessed 23 May 14].

Alison Evert. 2014. Medline Plus trusted health information for you. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm. [Accessed 23 May 14].

Bailey R. 2013. National Centre for Complementary and alternative medicine (NCCAM). [ONLINE] Available at: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm. [Accessed 23 May 14].

By Maddy White

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