What are Vitamins? Explain their functions and types.

Vitamins are a group of essential nutrients that enable our body to function properly and to stay healthy, by fighting off with diseases.

Our body cannot produce vitamins itself, so we must get them through the food we eat or in some cases through the supplements.

The nutrients that we get from vitamins help our body to carry out essential functions such as:

1.Production of skin, muscle, and bone

2.Converting food into energy

3.Maintenance and repairing of cells, tissues, and organs

4.Strengthening the immune system

Vitamins are divided into two parts :

1. Fat-Soluble: These vitamins are stored in our fat cells, so it requires fat in order to be absorbed.

2. Water-Soluble: These vitamins are not stored in our body, which means the body needs a continuous supply of them, therefore they need to be replenished daily.

There are 13 essential vitamins based on their types(Fat-Soluble & Water-Soluble), and they are:

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

1.Vitamin A - It is found in orange-colored fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, like spinach.

2.Vitamin D - It can be found in fortified milk and dairy products; cereals; (and surely, sunshine).

3.Vitamin E - It is found in fortified cereals, leafy green vegetables, seeds, nuts.

4.Vitamin K - It can be found in dark green leafy vegetables, beet.

Water Soluble

1.Vitamin B1, or (Thiamin) - It is found in whole grains, enriched grains, liver, seeds, nuts

2.Vitamin B2, or (Riboflavin) - It is found in whole grains, enriched grains, dairy products

3.Vitamin B3, or (Niacin) - It is found in meat, fish, poultry, whole grains

4.Vitamin B5, or (Pantothenic Acid) - It is found in whole grains, meat, poultry

5.Vitamin B6, or (Pyridoxine) - It is found in fortified cereals, soy products

6.Vitamin B7, or (Biotin) - It is found in fruits, meats

7.Vitamin B9, or (Folic Acid) - It is found in leafy vegetables

8.Vitamin B12, or (Cyanocobalamin) - It is found in fish, meat, poultry, dairy products

9.Vitamin C - It is found in citrus fruits and juices, like oranges and grapefruits, red, green, and yellow peppers.