Vitamins and Their Role in Our Lives
by Charlene
J. Nuble
zone3
Vitamins, like minerals, are an essential part of the function and
health of the body system. While many vitamins serve individual purposes,
the more common way for vitamins to function properly is as cofactors to
or in partnership with other vitamins, minerals, nutrients and other
substances in the body such as enzymes. Some of the most important
processes in the body are the result of Vitamins partnering with each
other to achieve certain affects, processes or functions. Two of
the most essential and most powerful vitamin partnerships are the group of
eight vitamins that make up the nutritional powerhouse that is
collectively known as the Vitamin B complex and the group of three
vitamins that are known as the antioxidant vitamins. In addition to these,
there are varieties of other combinations of vitamins that serve essential
purposes within the body thus preserving health and enhancing function.
The vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex include Vitamin B1
(Thiamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5
(Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid or
simply Folate), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Biotin (Vitamin H). The degree
to which the Vitamin B complex affects bodily function and health, as well
as the function and health of the mind in terms of cognitive processes and
emotional balance and stability is nothing but amazing. The Vitamin B
complex is at work in and is essential to every major system of the body
and is a part of almost every important function and process. The group of
vitamins that is known as the antioxidant group is made up of Vitamin C,
Vitamin E and Vitamin A. Each of these vitamins are powerful agents on
their own, serving individual essential purposes in the body. But they are
their most powerful and useful when they combine their strengths thus
serving as antioxidants. They function to rid the body of the cell and
tissue damaging free radicals that have been associated with a variety of
degenerative processes and diseases including the effects of the basic
aging process and the declining abilities of the mind. Some studies have
suggested connections between free radicals and such infirmities as heart
disease and Alzheimer's disease. Free radicals are destabilized molecules,
created when a weakened molecule splits and leaves the free radical
without one of the electrons it needs. Weakened molecules can result from
the body's natural metabolic processes as well as from environmental
contaminants such as pollution. The free radicals attack other molecules
in the effort to take the electron that it is missing. This damages the
attacked molecule, making it a free radical too. When enough free radicals
emerge in a cell, it can cause cellular damage, which, as more free
radicals continue to be produces, can cause tissue damage. Antioxidants
bring these free radicals under control by giving them the electron that
they need, bringing to an end their aggressive behavior against other
molecules. Because of this, antioxidants are sometimes even coined as the
Fountain of Youth of the New Age.
Nutritional supplements can ensure that your body has enough of the
nutrients it needs to support these important partnerships. Attention to
nutrition is one of the most important things you can do for the overall
health of mind and body.
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S
resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links
must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nutrition Related Articles:
 Calcium: the Miracle Mineral
Is Your Bread Slowly Killing You?
Nutrition Tips to Improve Fat Loss
Benefits of a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
Don't Allow Your Food To Control You!
Exercise Nutrition: How To Keep That Energy Up!
Heredity Is Not Destiny: Do Health and Weight Problems Run in
Your Family? It May Be Habits, Not Genetics
Just Say No to Carb Phobia
Healthy Eating Tips For Busy Women
In Excess of Portion
|
Go to Page: 