Vitamin K

As far as I know, there isn't a vitamin F or G. So K is obviously our next victim. I do believe that vitamin K is also the last one on the list. Which means that vitamin K is the last one I have learned about, therefore, the last one I'll be blogging about. Which, I'm sure, will be a relief to my dear readers!
Anyway, vitamin K is very important because, without it you could bleed to death! Vitamin K helps your blood to coagulate. So, without it ,blood does not clot properly which could lead to internal bleeding, and bleeding to death.
You can get vitamin K in your diet from yogurt, alfalfa( an excellent source by the way), dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, egg yolk, liver, and soy bean oil. To suggest a "proper" daily amount is difficult because, like vitamin D, the needed amount varies from person to person.

I hope that, at least, some of this information has been helpful and easy to understand. Just remember that diet and exercise are the keys to preventing those unwanted doctor bills and keeping your body healthy!

~Miss Taeler~

Vitamin E

If you know your "ABC's" then you already knew what was next.(I hope) :]
Vitamin E is just as important, or maybe even more important than any other of the 7 basic vitamins. Without vitamin E your body wouldn't be able to absorb other nutrients and process other vitamins properly. Which could lead to having the deficiency symptoms of other vitamins and minerals, when all you lack is E.
Specifically, vitamin E helps your body keep nutrients from being destroyed in your body by oxygen. It also helps your body use vitamin A and increase the amount of vitamin A that can be stored in your liver. E helps convert your food into energy, keep your heart and skeletal muscles healthy, and helps burns heal faster.
Some edible sources of vitamin E are:
-vegetable oils
-wheat germ
-whole grain breads and cereals
-egg yolk
-liver
-bean sprouts
-cabbage
-lettuce &
-yeast
Vitamin E deficiency symptoms are...fatigue, weakness, & deficiency symtoms of other vitamins.
It's hard to determine the amount of vitamin E that you need, because it depends on the amount of fats and oils you eat. However, you generally need more vitamin E the more fats and oils that you eat.
Again, just do your best to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle with the 7 basic food groups all incorporated proportionately, and plenty of good exercise!
God bless!
~Miss Taeler~

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, exists in several forms. Of course there are the edible forms, but there is also a form inside the fatty substances in your body. This form reacts to ultraviolet sunlight in such a way that when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays it converts into a usable substance that your body can then absorb.
Vitamin D functions to help your body use minerals from other foods to build strong teeth and bones, and helps prevent tooth decay.
Vitamin D can be obtained by spending an hour or two outside on a sunny day, or eating some liver(yuck), fish liver oils, sardines, salmon, tuna, or egg yolks. You can also obtain vitamin D from milk that has been exposed to ultraviolet rays (sunlight), since the fatty substance in your skin that is converted to vitamin D also exists in milk.
A lack of an appropriate amount of vitamin D can cause soft or poorly formed bones and teeth as well as rickets. The appropriate amount of vitamin D varies from person to person, so just do your best to eat healthy and spend time outdoors and your body will do the rest!

Vitamin C

Everyone knows vitamin C is important and can be obtained from citrus fruits. However, most folks don't know that vitamin C helps prevent allergies and fatigue! It also helps heal cuts, scrapes, burns, and broken bones, it helps keep your gums healthy, and helps your body form collagen.
The wonderful C is easily obtained from citrus fruits(duh), as well as berries, papayas, cantaloupes, tomatoes, broccoli, raw cabbage, brussel sprouts, and green peppers. In order to prevent a vitamin C deficiency you need to have some in your diet every day. Be careful not get too much at once, or you might get diarrhea! That would be bad. However, your body loves Vitamin C and unless you take A LOT at once then you will be fine.
Without enough C in your diet you are more susceptible to infections, and(of course) a deficiency. Deficiency symptoms are: Bruises( that you don't know where they came from), Bleeding gums, infections, and scurvy. Like vitamin B, a vitamin C deficiency is fairly rare in the USA, but the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

B complex vitamins

Vitamin B is hidden in the shadow of vitamin A and the importance of it is often overlooked. The B complex vitamins are fairly easy to obtain in a diet and very profitable for your body. There are four that I've learned about so far and probably several more, but you need to have some of them every day.
Vitamin B functions in your body to...
-use protein to build new tissue
-change food into energy
-help digest your food
-help your body grow at a normal rate
-keep your blood healthy
-keep your gums healthy and prevent tooth decay
-keep the skin around your eyes and mouth smooth and healthy
-help your heart and nervous system work properly
You can get the B complex vitamins from liver, yeast, wheat germ, brown rice, milk, meat, whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, and most vegetables.
A vitamin B deficiency is pretty rare, but it can lead to anemia and beriberi, which are both life threatening diseases.
As i said, a vitamin B deficiency is pretty rare here in America, so I wouldn't stress over it. Just be careful to make sure that you eat a healthy diet and stay fit and you should "B" fine. :)

This vitamin facts series is just me blogging about what I'm learning in biology. I thought it was interesting, helpful info and wanted to share! If you have any questions or comments, please comment, and I will do my best to answer them.

~finding joy in the small stuff~
~Miss Taeler~

Vitamin A

When I think of vitamin A, I automatically think of carrots. I must admit that the two go hand in hand, however, there is much more to vitamin A than the orange root that most children despise.
Did you know that a vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, sensitivity to light, dry and rough skin,dull hair, ridges in your nails, poorly formed teeth, diseased gums, and stunted growth! I knew it was important but didn't know it was that important!
So where can we get enough vitamin A to prevent having a deficiency? CARROTS! Not really, they are a good source but so is any dark green or dark yellow vegetables and dark yellow fruits. As well as egg yolks, milk, fish liver oils, liver, and real butter. So, if your kids don't like carrots very much, don't worry. It's good to make them continually try little bites, since kids tastes change as they grow, but miss mom, they won't loose their sight if they don't eat a carrot a day.
Now the question is, "How much vitamin A is enough?" Well, you generally need to eat at least one serving of vegetables twice a day. That should be easy, right?
Yes, I know, easier said than done. I don't think that my family even eats that many vegetables! (OOPS)
However, of you eat a lot of vitamin A it will help you have healthy,smooth skin, it will help you see well and help you develop healthy bones and tooth enamel. It will also help your body fight infections and colds! So, happy Vitamin A to all of you and may we all eat healthier!