Our body needs these nutrients to build and maintain healthy cells, tissues, organs and glands in the daily diets we take. There wont be any functions such as hormonal,chemical,physical and mental activities without these nutients.
A Vitamin can be defined as an organic molecule that is an important micronutrient which an organism needs in small quantities for accurate mechanism of its metabolism.
Introduction Of Vitamins
Do you know the food we eat is an utmost importance in the cure of disease? The adoption of faulty food habits can be the primary cause of disease in our body system especially when our body has a lowered resistance.
According to experts there are about 45 chemical components and elements that the human body needs, among these elements vitamins,carbohydrates,proteins,fats and minerals must be present. Many vital functions such as reproduction,intelligence,metabolism,the immune mechanism and hormonal control are governored by vitamins and minerals though they are required in smaller quantities.
Some vitamins possess an antioxidant properties which plays a vital role by reducing the oxidation and countering the damaging effects of free radicals in the body and preventing oxidation process. These vitamins are A,C,E and B-carotene, by virtue of their properties, they can delay ageing process. They also prevent heart joints, lenses of the eyes and prevent degeneration in blood vessels.
According to experts almost all varieties of disease can be gotten by merely bad eating choices which can produce inadequate supply of vitamins,mineral and amino acids. These nutritional deficiency occurs as a result of intensed processing and refining of foods like cereals and sugar.
Summary
Try to consume a varied and well-balanced diet so you can get adequate amounts of nutrients including the vitamins and minerals you need for good health.
For example, babies need extra vitamin D in infancy while pregnant women need folic acid supplements. After an illness, surgery or while recuperating from an incident, vitamins and minerals supplements are required.
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA): The RDA is the estimated quantity 0f nutrient (or calories) we required per day which is crucial for maintaining good health- Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/ National Academy of Sciences.
The categorisation of age groups used in the RDA’s are:
Infants- upto 12 months
Children-1 to 14 years
Adults – 14 years of age and above.
The RDAs and amount of nutrients present in foods are given in micrograms (mcg), milligrams(mg), or grams(g).
1,000 micrograms = 1 milligram
1,000 milligrams = 1 gram
Remember our objective is to take a balanced and adequate diets of all nutrients which include minerals, amino acids and vitamins in order to maintain and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
