Vitamins can be confusing.. Here is a brief summary of what some of them do for us….
Eating the right foods keeps our bodies working properly, thanks to a mix of essential vitamins and nutrients. Found in many foods, from fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins can either be water-soluble or fat-soluble. It is essential to have a good balance of the right vitamins in your system, as doing so contributes to your energy level and ability to fight off disease.
However, it can be difficult to know which vitamins are best to take. Since people have a variety of different careers that affect their daily routines and fitness levels, there is not one cure-all vitamin to take to remain healthy. Those that work in an office every day have needs that are different from firefighters, who have different needs than athletes.
Tare a number of types of vitamins though that you should consider adding to your daily regimen. These support everything from heart health to memory and are easy to obtain. Here is a list of some of the most common vitamins and the benefits they have:
Vitamin A
What It Does: Vitamin A promotes healthy vision and skin, and it also supports bone and tooth growth. In addition, vitamin A helps your immune system and is important in the reproductive process. Finally, vitamin A enables your heart, kidneys, lungs, and other organs to work properly.
Vitamin B12
What It Does: Vitamin B12 promotes healthy nerve function and also helps your body make new cells. It can also help you lower your risk of heart disease because it breaks down fatty and amino acids.
Vitamin C
What It Does: Vitamin C is important for preventing infections and promoting a healthy immune system. It also helps the body absorb iron, which is a critical component in the process of carrying oxygen through your blood cells.
Vitamin D
What It Does: Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium in the body, which is important for bone health and development as you grow. It also helps reduce inflammation and benefits your immune system.
Vitamin E
What It Does: Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage and may also help in the fight against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also important to the immune system, fighting off bacteria and preventing infections.
Vitamin K
What It Does: Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and promotes bone health. Scientists are studying its effect on reducing the risk of coronary heart disease and osteoporosis.
Biotin
What It Does: Biotin is crucial to maintaining overall health because it increases absorption of protein, carbohydrates, and fat from food. It keeps your bones strong and your hair healthy and growing.
Folic Acid
What It Does: Folic acid is responsible for making DNA and new red blood cells. It works to prevent anemia as well.
Calcium
Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly.