vitamins and minarals salts

Vitamins and mineral salts

Vitamins (Vital+amines) are complex organic compounds present in small amount in our food. Vitamins do not provide energy. They do not promote growth yet they are essential for normal body activities. Mineral salts regulates the functions of all body organs. Deficiency Disease of vitamins and mineral salts lead to several unhealthy conditions which are Deficiency Disease diseases.

Types of vitamins, sources and uses.

Vitamins can be classified into types on their solubility in fat and water.

• Fat soluble vitamins: Vitamins – A, D, E and K
• Water soluble vitamins : Vitamins B and C

Each vitamin has its own chemical name and very complicated chemical formula. However, for simplicity they are represented by letter such as A, B, C, D, E and K.

 

Sources of vitamins

Our body can’t in take most of the vitamins. Vitamin D can be formed in our body by the action of sunlight on fat under the skin and vitamin k is formed by the extent. Almost all the food items contains more their one vitamin in varying amount.

Vitamin-A :

Vitamin-A Helps to keep eyes, hair and skin healthy .
Where it is found: in carrots, butter, sweet potato’s, papaya and mango. Deficiency Disease : Night Blindness and  exophthalmia .

Vitamin-B1 :

Helps the digestive and nervous system to work well.
Where it is found : In eggs, meat, whole cereals and yeast
Deficiency Disease : Beriberi

Vitamin-B2:

Keeps the skin and mouth healthy
Where it is found : in green leafy vegetables, peas, beans and milk
Deficiency Disease : Retarded growth and bad skin

Vitamin B12 :

Needs for healthy blood and red blood cells
Where it is found : Mostly in meat and non-vegetarian food
Deficiency Disease : Anemia

Vitamin C :

Helps to resist infections, of teeth, gums and joints
Where it is found : In almost all fresh fruits, especially lemon, oranges and goose berries and guava
Deficiency Disease : Scurvy

Vitamin D : 

Aids in the normal strengthening of bones
Where it is found : in fish liver oils, milk, meat
Deficiency Disease : Rickets in Children Osteomalacia in adult.

Vitamin K:

Helps in the clotting of blood
Where it is found : In green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, and egg yolks.
Deficiency Disease : Excessive bleeding after injury – Hemophilia