Everyone knows that vitamins are important, but what are they and what do they do? Here is a short course in vitamins 101.

1. What are vitamins?

Vitamins are a substance that human bodies need to grow and develop normally. If human beings don't have enough of the proper vitamins, they will not grow normally, will develop diseases and may even die.

The body needs 13 vitamins. These vitamins are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K and the B vitamins which are thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, biotin and vitamin B-12.

There are two different types of vitamins. Some are fat-soluble vitamins. These vitamins are stored within the fat cells of the body and in the liver. These vitamins can be stored in the body for a long time. The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, vitamins D, vitamins E and vitamins K. The other type of vitamins are water-soluble. The water-soluble types of vitamins are dissolved in water and carried in the bloodstream. They are used by the body and then excreted in urine. The types of vitamins that are water-soluble are C and the B vitamins.

2. What do the vitamins do?

Vitamins perform dozens of functions, but listed below are a few of the main ones.

Vitamin A:

This is a vitamin that plays a large part in human eyesight. It's needed for night vision and for seeing in color. It also promotes growth and is necessary for healthy skin.

B Vitamins:

The B vitamins have many functions, but in general they regulate the metabolism and produce red blood cells. Red blood cells are essential to carrying oxygen throughout the body, so the B vitamins are crucial to life.

Vitamin C:

This is a vitamin that is important to help keep body tissues like muscles and gums in good shape. Vitamin C is also necessary for the healing process because it helps the body fight off infection.

Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is needed in the formation of strong bones and teeth. It enables the body to absorb calcium.

Vitamin E:

This vitamin maintains body tissues like eyes, skin and the liver. It is also necessary in the formation of red blood cells.

Vitamin K:

Vitamin K is the key to blood clotting. Without vitamin K, humans would bleed to death from cuts, bruises or minor injuries.

3. What are vitamin deficiency diseases?

There are a huge number of illnesses and problems caused by vitamin deficiencies. Lack of sufficient vitamins can affect the human body in many ways from mild inconvenience to birth defects or even death. Some of the problems caused by vitamin deficiencies are listed below.

Lack of - Result

Vitamin A - night blindness, loss of smell and appetite

B Vitamins - paralysis, insomnia, retarded growth, spinal cord malfunction, heart problems

Vitamin C - scurvy, bleeding gums, slow-healing wounds & fractures, skin hemorrhages

Vitamin D - rickets, tooth decay, softening of bones

Vitamin E - rupture of red blood cells, degeneration of heart and other muscles

Vitamin K - intestinal bleeding, eye hemorrhaging, ovarian hemorrhaging, birth defects, nosebleeds

4. Where are vitamins found?

Vitamins are found primarily in food. Food is the best source of vitamins IF it is grown in healthy, unpolluted soils with natural fertilizers and no pesticides, herbicides or artificial chemicals.

Unfortunately much of the food consumed by modern societies is not healthy. It is over-fertilized, grown in poor soils and watered with polluted water. In these conditions the vitamin content is reduced or severely compromised. Nutritional supplements or additional vitamins are vital to the maintenance of good health.