Home » Vitamins in Diet Vitamins are very necessary for the maintenance of perfect metabolism of the body. Vitamins can be interpreted as bio-molecules that serves as catalysts in chemical reactions. Vitamins are attached to enzymes when they act as catalysts. They are known as cofactors. Vitamins function as co-enzymes by carrying chemical groups between enzymes. Various types of vitamins have been discovered still now. Among them vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K are the most popular. Learn about the various vitamins in diet from the pages of sitagita.

Vitamins in diet are essential for the normal growth and development of the body. Even the fetus in the mother's womb develops absorbing the various vitamins. The vitamins enable chemical reactions that help in the development and growth of bone, muscle and skin. After the formation and growth of a multicellular organism there is the requirement of developing a multi cellular life form. The vitamins also help in processing of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fats. A deficiency in any of the vitamin may lead to the development of serious disease from the beginning.

Vitamins in diet are generally absorbed in the body with various foods. Some exclusive vitamins like vitamin K and biotin, are produced naturally in the skin with the help of ultraviolet rays of the sun. Humans can produce some vitamins from precursors they consume. Vitamin A is produced from beta carotene and niacin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Vitamin A popularly called 'Retinol' is a fat soluble vitamin. Vitamin A helps in the maintaining of healthy skin and firm mucous membranes. Vitamin A protects the skin form infection and sunburn. It enables good vision preventing from night blindness, Vitamin A can be derived from foods like cheese, dark green vegetables, milk, cod liver oil, pumpkin, carrots, papayas, butter, mangoes.

The water soluble Vitamin B1 provides normal appetite and digestion. It helps in maintaining a healthy nervous system. The chemical name of Vitamin B1 is Thiamine. It should be consumed 1.2 mg per day. Vitamin B1is available in meat, cereal,wheat-germ poultry, fish, eggs, leafy vegetables and yeast. Deficiency of the vitamin may cause beriberi. Vitamin B2 or Roboflavin helps in maintaining healthy skin, tongue and lips. Vitamin B2 is available in in foods like fish, poultry, eggs, milk, cod liver oil. The deficiency of Vitamn B3 or niacin may lead to pellagra.

Vitamin C helps in the development of tissue cells, healthy bones, teeth and blood vessels. It also helps in the speedy recovery of wounds and broken bones. The vitamin can be absorbed from oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, green peppers, spinach, lettuce cauliflower, chillies, tomatoes, melons and guavas. Vitamin D is ideal for the strengthening of bones, muscles and teeth. Vitamin E helps in red blood cell formation. The vitamin protects cell membranes from damages caused by excessive fat burnings. The vitamin can be absorbed from vegetable fats, soya beans, peanuts, corn oil, coconut, whole grain cereals. Vitamin K speeds blood clotting. The vitamin can be derived from spinach, lettuce and various other dark green vegetables.