Vitamins and Their Importance in Health and Disease

Vitamins and Their Importance in Health and Disease
By Grata Young

The word 'Vitamine' meaning a vital amine was proposed by a Polish Researcher, Dr. Cacimir Funk, in 1911 to designate a new food substance which cured beri-beri. Other terms were proposed as new factors were discovered. But the word vitamin, with the final e dropped, met with popular favour.

Vitamins are potent organic compounds which are found in small concentrations in foods. Theyperform specific and vital functions in the body chemistry. They are like electric sparks whichhelp to run human motors. Except for a few exceptions, they cannot be manufactured orsynthesized by the organism and their absence or improper absorption results in specificdeficiency disease. It is not possible to sustain life without all the essential vitamins. In theirnatural state they are found in minute quantities in organic foods. WE must obtain them fromthese foods or in dietary supplements.

Vitamins, which are of several kinds, differ from each other in physiological function, in chemicalstructure and in their distribution in food. They are broadly divided into two categories, namely,fat-soluble and water-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are all soluble in fat and fat solvents andare therefore, known as fat-soluble. They are not easily lost by ordinary cooking methods andthey can be stored in the body to some extent, mostly in the liver. They are measured ininternational units. Vitamin B Complex and C are water soluble. They are dissolved easily incooking water. A portion of these vitamins may actually be destroyed by heating.

They cannot be stored in body and hence they have to be taken daily in foods. Any extraquantity taken in any one day is eliminated as waste. Their values are given in milligrams andmicrograms, whichever is appropriate.

Vitamins, used therapeutically, can be of immense help in fighting disease and speedingrecovery. They can be used in two ways, namely, correcting deficiencies and treating disease inplace of drugs. Latest researches indicate that many vitamins taken in large doses far above theactual nutritional needs, can have a miraculous healing effect in a wide range of commoncomplaints and illnesses. Vitamin therapy has a distinct advantage over drug therapy. Whiledrugs are always toxic and have many undesirable side effects, vitamins, as a rule are non-toxicand safe.

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