Vitamins
Vitamin A
Although generally thought of as only for the health of the eyes, it actually benefits the entire body. It is necessary for the continued good health of all of the mucous membrane of the mouth, ears, stomach, etc. It helps to guard against infection and it helps to build teeth, bones and blood.
It is a stimulant to our body's defense system and helps keep our sex organs in good repair.
Vitamin A is usually obtained from either fish liver oils or vegetables. When it is taken from vegetable sources, as in juices, it is called beta-carotene. There can be an overdose of vitamin A, but there can never be a toxic overdose of beta-carotene, although really vast over-consumption of carrot juice can temporarily yellow the skin!
Vitamin B-Complex
The B-complex vitamins are water-soluble and cannot be stored in the body. They must be obtained from food and supplements every day.
The Nutrition Almanac states:
The B-complex vitamins are active in providing the body with energy, basically by converting carbohydrates into glucose which the body "burns" to produce energy. They are vital in the metabolism of fats and protein. In addition, the B vitamins are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system and may be the single most important factor in the health of nerves. They are essential for the maintenance of muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract and for the health of the skin, hair, eyes, mouth and liver.
| The Vitamin B-Complex Family |
| B1 | Thiamine |
| B2 | Riboflavin |
| B3 | Niacin/Niacinamide |
| B6 | Pyridoxine |
| B12 | Cyanocobalamin |
| Biotin |
| Choline |
| Inositol |
| Folic Acid |
| PABA | Para-aminobenzoic acid |
| Pantothenic Acid | Calcium Pantothenate |
Vitamin C
The healing vitamin, the protective vitamin, the most talked about vitamin and deservedly so. Vitamin C may be one of the best answers to pollution and promoters of long life and healthier old age. Most animals can manufacture their own vitamin C. We can't, and since its water soluble, we have to have it daily. It helps maintain the connective tissue that holds us together. It fights infections, relieves allergies, combats radioactivity, fights cancer and the common cold.
Vitamin D
Since the body can manufacture its own vitamin D why is it necessary to get it from other sources? Whilst its true that we can produce our own vitamin D, most of us don't spend enough time with enough skin exposed to sunlight that isn't being filtered through smog, and any oil that forms on our skin (which contains the vitamin D) is usually washed off by the shower or pool before it can be absorbed. Without it, calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth cannot be absorbed.
Vitamin E
The antioxidant action of vitamin E helps to prevent the breakdown of fatty substances in the body, keeping the body healthier, and perhaps younger. It helps to increase the flow of blood to the heart, promotes healing inside and outside, and helps stimulate the reproductive organs to prevent miscarriage.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K's traditional claim to fame is that it helps blood coagulate. But recent research has identified new benefits from its use: It may be a key anti-aging vitamin and it may prevent both heart disease and osteoporosis. It's also a stronger antioxidant than vitamin E or coenzyme Q10. In addition, Vitamin K may be the future of treating certain kinds of cancer. And lack of it may have something to do with Alzheimer's disease.
Vitamin K is a powerful antioxidant that has been approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan since 1995. The vitamin has also shown promise in other areas, including:
- Prevents calcification of arteries and other soft tissue - The vascular system can suffer such damage that valve replacement and coronary artery bypass procedures may become necessary.
- Vitamin K protects the heart - Sudden death from heart attack is associated with calcification of the aorta, especially in young men. In the Framingham Heart Study, 35 year-old men with calcifications in the aorta had a 7 times increased risk of dying of a sudden heart attack. The risk decreases with age, but the chance of suddenly dying of a heart attack is doubled in people under 65 if their aortas are calcified.
- Prevents elevations of IL-6 - Rising levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) are an indication of aging. A chemical messenger for the immune system, IL-6 promotes inflammation. With age, this cytokine takes over and causes unwarranted inflammation throughout the body, including joints and brain. Alzheimer's patients have highly elevated levels of IL-6 in their brains.
- Regulates the body's calcium - Abnormal calcium accumulation can damage the brain. In fact, changes seen in Alzheimer's disease reflect disturbances in calcium metabolism. The pineal gland and the kidneys are especially vulnerable to excess calcium infiltration, while the skeleton suffers from a lack of calcium.
- Promotes bone calcification - Vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin that attracts calcium to the bone matrix.
- Experiments show that it can inhibit the growth of many forms of cancer, including breast, ovary, colon, stomach and kidney
- May play a role in the regulation of blood sugar - The pancreas, which makes insulin, has the second highest amount of vitamin K in the body. In the first study of its kind, Japanese researchers found that vitamin K deficiency can have effects similar to diabetes.