Vitamins

Vitamins are organic chemical compounds which are a vital nutrient in small doses to the human body. There are many different vitamins with various chemical compositions and benefits to taking them. The different types of vitamins are vitamins A, the many different types of B, C, D, E, and K. All vitamins except B and C are fat soluble, and B and C are water soluble, meaning that your body absorbs them either through fat cells or water.
Vitamin A helps the body with Vision, Gene Transcription, Immune Function, Embryonic Development and Reproduction, Bone Metabolism, Hematopoiesis, Skin Health, Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer, and Antioxidant Activity.

It is made of retinol. Vitamin A can be obtained from most animal meat sources, plants, and butter. The average person should take 2800-3000 micro liters per day. If you have vitamin A deficiency you have the risk of becoming blind, if you overdose then your bones become less dense and your skin will turn yellow-orange.

There are eight different types of B vitamins, there are many different types of the other vitamins but those variations are not as important as the many B vitamins are. The most important B vitamins are vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B9. They are made of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid, respectively.

Vitamin B1 is used by the body for carbohydrate metabolism. It is found in many fruits vegetables, and grains. The average person needs to take about 1.4mg of thiamine per day. Overdosing on thiamine has no adverse effects, but it has been shown that taking almost 40 times the daily dose improves brain function. Thiamine deficiency results in beriberi.

Vitamin B2 is used by the body to maintain metabolic rates. It is found most easily in milk products, bananas, fish, and asparagus. The recommended daily dosage is about .14mg per day for the average person. Riboflavin deficiency causes dryness in many parts of the body including eyes, lips, mouth, and throat. Overdosing on riboflavin may cause itching, numbness, or burning sensations.

Vitamin B3 is utilized by the body for production of steroid hormones and DNA repair. Niacin is most easily found in grain and the daily dose for the average person is 17 mg per day. Overdosing on niacin may result in skin problems, indigestion, or hyperglycemia. Niacin deficiency causes pellagra and in serious cases causes dementia or death.
Vitamin B5 is used by the body to make important enzymes, and aid synthesis and metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. It is most easily consumed through eating most meats. The average person should take about 5 mg per day. There are no side-effects of overdosing on pantothenic acid and deficiency may cause fatigue nausea and abdominal pain.

Vitamin B9 helps the body by producing DNA bases and synthesizing many amino acids. It is most commonly found in green leafy vegetables, hence its name "folate" which comes from folium in Latin meaning "leaf." The average person needs to take about 400 micrograms per day. Overdosing on folic acid has almost no side effects except that it could make absorbing B12 harder for the body. Folic acid deficiency could lead to diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Vitamin C helps the body with creating ATP, helping with the immune system, regulating and stabilizing hormones, and making amino acids. It is made of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is most easily obtained from eating almost any fruit. The average person should take 3,000-6,000 mg per day. Vitamin C deficiency results in scurvy. It is almost impossible to overdose on vitamin C, for a 176lb man to overdose; he would have to take 952g of vitamin C, which is a ridiculous amount, about 212 times the daily need.

Vitamin D helps the immune system, stabilizes and regulates the body's hormones, and makes healthier bones. It is made of Calciferol. Vitamin D is the easiest vitamin to take, all you need to do is simply stand outside in the sun for 15 minutes, and you are basically getting your daily dose. The average person should take 200 IU per day. Vitamin D deficiency can result in bone diseases, cancer, and rickets. Overdosing on vitamin D can result in kidney disease, heart disease, and numerous eating disorders.

Vitamin E removes free radicals and prevents damage to neurons. It is made of tocotrienols and tocopherals. Vitamin E is most easily consumed through eating most nuts or seeds, or eating green leafy vegetables. The average person should take about 1,500 IU per day. There are almost no consequences of vitamin E deficiency, but there are consequences of overdosing, which might include dying by many means, or increased risk of bleeding.
Vitamin K is needed for helping blood coagulation and modifying produced proteins. It is made of menaquinones and menatetrenones.

Vitamin K is produced by the body in the intestines by bacteria, so you don't need to consume as much as the other vitamins, but it can be found in leafy green vegetables. The average person needs about 25 micrograms per day. It is almost impossible to be vitamin K deficient unless your intestines are severely damaged. There have been no findings of anyone who has ever overdosed on vitamin K.

There are so many vitamins to think about taking and how they could affect your health, but in reality these daily values are easy to meet. It is very hard to overdose on these vitamins and as long as you eat fruits, grains, vegetables, and meats every day, you will meet all of the daily values. Vitamins are very important to your body and easy to consume, making them a great nutrient.