Vitamins-What Are They?

Vitamin, any of the organic compounds required by the body in small amounts for metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth in children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous-system chemicals, and genetic material.The various vitamins are not chemically related, and most differ in their physiological actions. They generally act as catalysts, combining with proteins to create metabolically active enzymes that in turn produce hundreds of important chemical reactions throughout the body. Without vitamins, many of these reactions would slow down or cease. The intricate ways in which vitamins act on the body, however, are still far from clear.

The 13 well-identified vitamins are classified according to their ability to be absorbed in fat or water. The fat-soluble vitamins—A, D, E, and K—are generally consumed along with fat-containing foods, and because they can be stored in the body's fat, they do not have to be consumed every day. The water-soluble vitamins—the eight B vitamins and vitamin C—cannot be stored and must be consumed frequently, preferably every day (with the exception of some B vitamins, as noted below).

The body can manufacture only vitamin D; all others must be derived from the diet. Lack of them causes a wide range of metabolic and other dysfunctions. In the U.S., since 1940, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council has published recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Expressed in milligrams or international units (IU) for adults and children of normal health, these recommendations are useful guidelines not only for professionals in nutrition but also for the growing number of families and individuals who eat irregular meals and rely on prepared foods, many of which are now required to carry nutritional labeling.

A well-balanced diet contains all the necessary vitamins, and most individuals who follow such a diet can correct any previous vitamin deficiencies. However, persons who are on special diets, who are suffering from intestinal disorders that prevent normal absorption of nutrients, or who are pregnant or lactating may need particular vitamin supplements to bolster their metabolism. Beyond such real needs, vitamin supplements are also often popularly believed to offer “cures” for many diseases, from colds to cancer; but in fact the body quickly eliminates most of these preparations without absorbing them. In addition, the fat-soluble vitamins can block the effect of other vitamins and even cause severe poisoning when taken in excess.

For Information of a Specific Vitamin, please select below:

Vitamin A - It affects the formation and maintenance of skin, mucous membranes, bones, and teeth; vision; and reproduction. An early deficiency symptom is night blindness (difficulty in adapting to darkness); other symptoms are ...

Vitamin B1 - Thiamine also plays a role in the synthesis of nerve-regulating substances. Deficiency in thiamine causes beriberi, which is characterized by muscular weakness, swelling of the heart, and leg cramps and may, in severe cases, lead to ...

Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin, or vitamin B₂, like thiamine, serves as a coenzyme—one that must combine with a portion of another enzyme to be effective—in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and, especially, respiratory proteins. It also serves in the maintenance of...

Vitamin B3 - Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid and vitamin B₃, also works as a coenzyme in the release of energy from nutrients. A deficiency of niacin causes pellagra, the first symptom of which is a sunburnlike eruption that ...

Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine, or vitamin B₆, is necessary for the absorption and metabolism of amino acids. It also plays roles in the use of fats in the body and in the formation of red blood cells. Pyridoxine deficiency is characterized by skin ...

Vitamin B12 - Cobalamin, or vitamin B₁₂, one of the most recently isolated vitamins, is necessary in minute amounts for the formation of nucleoproteins, proteins, and red blood cells, and for the functioning of the nervous system. Cobalamin deficiency is often due to..

Other B Vitamins - Folic acid, or folacin, is a coenzyme needed for forming body protein and hemoglobin. Pantothenic acid, another B vitamin, plays a still-undefined role in the ...

Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid - This well-known vitamin is important in the formation and maintenance of collagen, the protein that supports many body structures and plays a major role in the formation of bones and teeth. It also enhances the absorption of iron from...

Vitamin D - The "sunshine vitamin"- This vitamin is necessary for normal bone formation and for retention of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It also protects the teeth and bones against the effects of low calcium intake by making more...

Vitamin E - The role of vitamin E in the human body is not clearly established, but it is known to be an essential nutrient in more than 20 vertebrate species. The vitamin plays some role in forming ...

 Total Balance - Contains all the above mentioned vitamins, plus Minerals, Herbs,  Amino Acids and other valuable nutrients.

We utilize a delivery system that guarantees that none of the active ingredients are damaged by stomach acid and instead they are released along with the enzymes intact in the duodenum. This means bio-availability not before available in the natural supplement industry.

I say stop wasting money…get healthier…and possibly extend your life span.  The benefits of each of the 76 different supplements are explained in great detail at the Xtendlife website.  Visit their site and learn more.  With no exaggeration, it could be the best thing that you ever do for your health. 

See Article: Are All Vitamins Created Equal?