Soluble vitamins Vitamins are a valuable component to a healthy diet, because our bodies cannot make them or our bodies cannot produce enough of them to provide adequate nutrition to our cells. Vitamins are essential for everyday body functions such as cell growth, blood cell production, hormone production, and metabolism. Vitamins can also affect body systems such as the reproductive system, circulatory system, and the immune system. Fat soluble vitamins consist of vitamin A, D, E, and K. These vitamins only dissolve in fat not in water and are stored in fatty tissues as well as the liver. These vitamins can be stored for long periods of time and people consuming a well-balanced diet do not need to supplement them. It is more common for people to have too much of these of these vitamins in their system which can be toxic than with the water soluble vitamins.
Vitamin A is found in animal products such as liver, egg yolks, dairy products, and fish. Vitamin D can be found in dairy products such as milk, but also 10 minutes in the sun can give you your daily dose. This vitamin helps with the hardening of bones and teeth. Vitamin E is considered an antioxidant and helps to protect vitamins A and C. it also promotes the metabolism of iron and helps to maintain the nervous system. Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, nuts and seeds. Vitamin K is important to help in clotting blood. This vitamin also helps the body’s bones to hold calcium in. This vitamin is naturally produced by bacteria in the intestines, but can also be found in dark leafy green vegetable such as spinach, broccoli, and cabbage. This is why it is important to consume a well-balanced diet on a daily basis so that we can make sure that we are getting the proper vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function. The other types of vitamins our bodies require fall into the water soluble category.