What are vitamins?
They're good for you. They make your body healthy and strong. They are vitamins--natural substances that your body needs in order to thrive and grow.
Some vitamins have a single letter of the alphabet as an important part of their name. Have you ever heard of vitamin A? Vitamin C? Vitamin E? Other vitamins, such as folic acid and biotin, do not have a letter of the alphabet and the word "vitamin" as a part of their name.
Vitamins help our bodies do important jobs. For example, vitamin D plays a part in developing strong bones and teeth, and it helps ensure that there's a healthy level of calcium in your blood. Vitamin C also helps keep your bones and teeth healthy and assists in healing your wounds.
Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, are water-soluble, which means that they must be used by your body right away. Any portion of water-soluble vitamins that are not used will pass out of the body in urine. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, can be stored in the fatty tissue of the body. Eating a healthy diet is one way to help make sure your body is getting the vitamins it needs. For example, foods like chicken are rich in vitamins B3, B6 and B12, while foods such as broccoli are rich in folate, vitamin K, vitamin E and vitamin C!
Further Information
There are 13 essential vitamins that your body needs in order to do its important jobs. If a person does not have enough of a certain vitamin, he or she is deficient in that vitamin. For example, someone who does not get enough vitamin A has a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A helps support healthy vision. People who are deficient in vitamin A may have difficulty seeing well at night. Healthy diets and guidance from doctors can help us make sure we get the right amount of vitamins for our bodies!
