The human body is one
of the most amazing forms of matter on the planet. It is not
the fastest but it has traveled the world. It is not the biggest
but it dominated all habitable lands. And it is not the strongest
but it has survived for thousands of years. Yet, with so many
accomplishments, the human body cannot create its own food.
It relies on plants and animals for its source of nutrients,
minerals, and especially, vitamins.
The human body needs vitamins so that
it will grow and develop. The human body must have vitamins
so that it can function properly and can fight diseases. For
example, vitamin D is needed to help the bones become stronger
and to prevent rickets. Vitamin A is important to have good
eyesight. And vitamin C is needed to help a wound heal faster.
There are two types or groups of vitamins.
One group is called “water soluble vitamins”. As its name implies,
these vitamins can be dissolved in water. These are found in
parts of our body that contain a lot of water, such as the blood
stream. Through the blood, and with the aid of enzymes, these
water soluble vitamins can reach parts of the body that needed
them. Unfortunately, water is also used by the body to remove
wastes. When a water soluble vitamin is not utilized by the
body, it joins the wastes and water that are removed. Thus,
it is possible for urine to contain some water soluble vitamins.
But this also means that once the vitamins are removed, the
human body has to replace them. These water soluble vitamins
are vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the various B vitamins, such
as vitamin B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12
(cyanocobalamine), niacin, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic
acid.
The second group of vitamins is called
“fat soluble”. These vitamins are dissolved in fatty materials
in the human body, such as tissues, muscles, and liver. Since
the human body does not remove body fat along with wastes, the
fat soluble vitamins can be stored These can stay in the body
for several days or several months. When the human body needs
them, enzymes take them from the fatty tissues and bring them
to the part of the body where they are needed. The fat soluble
vitamins are vitamin A (retinol), vitamin D (calciferol), vitamin
E (tocopherols), and vitamin K (phylloquinone).
Some humans do not like to eat fruits
and vegetables that contain these vitamins. This is why they
take vitamin capsules to assure themselves that their bodies
have all the vitamins they need.
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