Welcome to The Gilded Apple
Here you will find the best tips to improve your health.
The B vitamins are:
- B1 (thiamine)
- B2 (riboflavin)
- B3 (niacin)
- B5 (pantothenic acid)
- B6
- B7 (biotin)
- B12
- Folic acid
These vitamins help the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. They also help form red blood cells. You can get B vitamins from proteins such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Leafy green vegetables, beans, and peas also have B vitamins. Many cereals and some breads have added B vitamins.
Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. Vitamin A plays a role in your:
- Vision
- Bone growth
- Reproduction
- Cell functions
- Immune system
Vitamin A is an antioxidant. It can come from plant or animal sources. Plant sources include colorful fruits and vegetables. Animal sources include liver and whole milk. Vitamin A is also added to foods like cereals.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It is important for your skin, bones, and connective tissue. It promotes healing and helps the body absorb iron.
Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables. Good sources include citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens. Some juices and cereals have added vitamin C.
Some people may need extra vitamin C:
- Pregnant/breastfeeding women
- Smokers
- People recovering from surgery
- Burn victims
Vitamin D is important to your body because:
- It helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is one of the main building blocks of bone. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or rickets.
- It also has a role in your nerve, muscle, and immune systems:
- Your muscles need it to move
- Your nerves need it to carry messages between your brain and your body
- Your immune system needs vitamin D to fight off bacteria and viruses
Vitamin E is an antioxidant. It plays a role in your immune system and metabolic processes.
Good sources of vitamin E include:
- Vegetable oils
- Margarine
- Nuts and seeds
- Leafy greens
Vitamin K helps your body by making proteins for healthy bones and tissues. It also makes proteins for blood clotting. If you don't have enough vitamin K, you may bleed too much.
Newborns have very little vitamin K. They usually get a shot of vitamin K soon after they are born.
If you take blood thinners, you need to be careful about how much vitamin K you get. You also need to be careful about taking vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E can interfere with how vitamin K works in your body. Ask your health care provider for recommendations about these vitamins.
There are different types of vitamin K. Most people get vitamin K from plants such as green vegetables, and dark berries.
You can usually get all your vitamins from the foods you eat. Your body can also make vitamins D and K. People who eat a vegetarian diet may need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.