
Invented in 1911 by a Polish chemist named Casimir Funk, vitamins were originally considered to cure beriberi. While the inventor thought that he had found an important chemical vital to life, it was found that he was theoretically right, in the sense that the lack of vitamins in the body could cause diseases.
Essentially organic substances, vitamins are found in abundance in natural foods like fruits and vegetables. These have been found to be important to maintain normal metabolic processes in our body.
There are two types of vitamins - fat and water soluble. While most vitamins are water soluble, vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble. Some are destroyed by heat; the notable amongst these is vitamin C, which can be lost due to cooking.
Most of the other vitamins remain stable even when heated. It must be remembered that while large amounts of vitamins are not necessary for the body, but any deficiency, however small it might be, could result in a wide range of ailments.
All the vitamins which our body needs could theoretically be had if we had a mixed diet including some protective foods. Vitamin pills without the back up of a balance diet can hardly give us any benefit.
Vitamin supplements on the other hand are deemed necessary for our body - especially when there is lack of dietary intake of vitamins. Such conditions are common in situations like chronic diseases, post delivery, post surgery and also during pregnancy when the need for vitamins is acute.
The need for vitamin supplements varies with age and other factors. It is rare to find that only one type of vitamin is missing from the diet. Usually vitamin deficiencies occur when multiple vitamins are missing from the daily diet. Thus vitamin supplements should contain a balanced supply of several vitamins.
For instance, vitamin A which was once referred to as anti-infective vitamin, helps in the preservation of skin, mucous membranes etc. its deficiency is indicated by several symptoms like night-blindness, changes in eye, general weakness, problems of respiratory tract, genito-urinary troubles, gastrointestinal disorders, and nerve disorders.
Similarly, Vitamin B-complex includes a large number of water soluble vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, pantothenic acid, inositol, folic acid and vitamin B-12.
Of these, thiamine is essential for utilizing carbohydrates and restoration of normal appetite. Its deficiency usually causes abdominal pains, heart irregularities, muscle tenderness, emotional instability, constipation and irritability.
Invented in 1911 by a Polish chemist named Casimir Funk, vitamins were originally considered to cure beriberi. While the inventor thought that he had found an important chemical vital to life, it was found that he was theoretically right, in the sense that the lack of vitamins in the body could cause diseases.
Essentially organic substances, vitamins are found in abundance in natural foods like fruits and vegetables. These have been found to be important to maintain normal metabolic processes in our body.
There are two types of vitamins - fat and water soluble. While most vitamins are water soluble, vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble. Some are destroyed by heat; the notable amongst these is vitamin C, which can be lost due to cooking.
Most of the other vitamins remain stable even when heated. It must be remembered that while large amounts of vitamins are not necessary for the body, but any deficiency, however small it might be, could result in a wide range of ailments.
All the vitamins which our body needs could theoretically be had if we had a mixed diet including some protective foods. Vitamin pills without the back up of a balance diet can hardly give us any benefit.
Vitamin supplements on the other hand are deemed necessary for our body - especially when there is lack of dietary intake of vitamins. Such conditions are common in situations like chronic diseases, post delivery, post surgery and also during pregnancy when the need for vitamins is acute.
The need for vitamin supplements varies with age and other factors. It is rare to find that only one type of vitamin is missing from the diet. Usually vitamin deficiencies occur when multiple vitamins are missing from the daily diet. Thus vitamin supplements should contain a balanced supply of several vitamins.
For instance, vitamin A which was once referred to as anti-infective vitamin, helps in the preservation of skin, mucous membranes etc. its deficiency is indicated by several symptoms like night-blindness, changes in eye, general weakness, problems of respiratory tract, genito-urinary troubles, gastrointestinal disorders, and nerve disorders.
Similarly, Vitamin B-complex includes a large number of water soluble vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, pantothenic acid, inositol, folic acid and vitamin B-12.
Of these, thiamine is essential for utilizing carbohydrates and restoration of normal appetite. Its deficiency usually causes abdominal pains, heart irregularities, muscle tenderness, emotional instability, constipation and irritability.
Seasilver Vitamin Supplements is an all natural whole food nutritional health supplement with over 80 nutrients and all essential amino acids. Seasilver is now distributed under the new name and label of SeaAloe. You can order SeaAloe/Seasilver at http://www.seasilverfactorydirect.com/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harold_M_Stokes